Vauxhall International North West 200

Triangle Circuit, Northern Ireland

May 12, 2015

Superbike First Qualifying Session Results (wet conditions):

1. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), 4:53.639, 109.972 mph

2. Gary Johnson (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:57.376, 108.590 mph

3. Lee Johnston (BMW S1000RR), 4:59.293, 107.894 mph

4. Dean Harrison (Yam YZF-R1), 5:01.146, 107.230 mph

5. Ian Hutchinson (Kaw ZX-10R), 5:01.657, 107.049 mph

6. John McGuinness (Hon CBR1000RR), 5:02.049, 106.910 mph

7. Michael Rutter (BMW S1000RR), 5:03.458, 106.413 mph

8. Michael Dunlop (Yam YZF-R1), 5:04.068, 106.200 mph

9. William Dunlop (BMW S1000RR), 5:04.64, 105.992 mph

10. Guy Martin (BMW S1000RR), 5:05.441, 105.723 mph

53. Brandon Cretu (Bim BB3), 5:54.944, 90.978 mph

Superstock (1000cc) First Qualifying Results (dry conditions):

1. Alastair Seeley (BMW S1000RR), 4:32.953, 118.306 mph

2. Michael Dunlop (Yam YZF-R1), 4:37.234, 116.479 mph

3. Dean Harrison (Yam YZF-R1), 4:38.661, 115.883 mph

4. Horst Saiger (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:41.020, 114.910 mph

5. William Dunlop (BMW S1000RR), 4:42.538, 114.293 mph

6. Michael Rutter (BMW S1000RR), 4:42.843, 114.169 mph

7. Guy Martin (BMW S1000RR), 4:42.852, 114.166 mph

8. Gary Johnson (Kaw ZX-10R), 4:43.188, 114.030 mph

9. Conor Cummins (Hon CBR1000RR), 4:44.562, 113.480 mph

10. Martin Jessopp (BMW S1000RR), 4:45.203, 113.225 mph

42. Brandon Cretu (Bim BB3), 5:10.653, 103.949 mph

Supersport First Qualifying Results (wet conditions):

1. Alastair Seeley (Suz GSX-R600), 5:10.384, 104.039 mph

2. Michael Dunlop (Yam YZF-R6), 5:12.295, 103.402 mph

3. William Dunlop (Yam YZF-R6), 5:13.865, 102.885 mph

4. Gary Johnson (Yam YZF-R6), 5:14.722, 102.605 mph

5. Glenn Irwin (Kaw ZX-6R), 5:16.545, 102.014 mph

6. Dean Harrison (Yam YZF-R6), 5:17.273, 101.780 mph

7. Lee Johnston (Tri Daytona 675R), 5:18.599, 101.356 mph

8. Bruce Anstey (Hon CBR600RR), 5:19.559, 101.052 mph

9. Jamie Hamilton (Hon CBR600RR), 5:19.939, 100.932 mph

10. Russ Mountford (Tri Daytona 675R), 5:20.642, 100.710 mph

More, from a press release issued by Pacemaker Press International:

ALASTAIR SEELEY DOMINATES OPENING PRACTICE SESION AT VAUXHALL INTERNATIONAL NORTH WEST 200.

Alastair Seeley is chasing three wins at this year’s Vauxhall International North West 200 to equal Robert Dunlop’s all-time record victory tally and he made a great start during today’s opening practice session by topping the leaderboard in the Supersport, Superstock and Superbike sessions.

“A good start to the week for us, and all the bikes are working well,” the 12-times North West winner smiled afterwards. “The conditions were good the whole way around for the last session, and I was just chipping away – I managed to come in, make some changes and get a few more laps done at the end. It was hard to get a clear lap with all the traffic but I was able to get a clear road and pull some seconds out of times.”

Seeley, who is coming to the seaside event on top form having won at the British Superstock championship round at Oulton Park a fortnight ago, steered his S1000RR Tyco BMW to the fastest times in the stocker and superbike classes. In what was his first ride on a 600cc Suzuki this season, the former British Supersport champion, also topped the leaderboard in the 600cc class.

“I hadn’t ridden the little bike until today but I have lots of great memories of the 600cc Suzuki and it worked well.”
The Carrickfergus man used his vast experience to overcome the difficult conditions with strong winds and heavy rain hampering the 600cc and Superbike sessions in particular.

“I pulled in early during the Superbike session because the conditions were pretty sketchy and I didn’t want to take any chances.” he explained.

The good news is that this should be the last rain of the week to fall on the seaside event with fine weather being forecast from now until the weekend.

Gary Johnson was second fastest on the GBMoto ZX10R Kawasaki in the superbike class and Lee Johnston was third on the ECR/Burdens BMW.

“I kept getting held up in traffic especially going into the chicanes.” Johnson explained after his first non-test outing on the Kawasaki. “But everything was going well and I am happy.”

Lee Johnston, who has swapped from Honda to BMW power for 2015, was equally pleased with his performance.

“It wasn’t really a day for eating ice cream.” The Fermanagh man joked after the session.

“I am happy considering they are all new bikes this year. We are third and I want to be first but I am really looking forward to Thursday now.

Martrain’s Dean Harrison was the fastest of the new R1 Yamahas with Michael Dunlop finishing eighth in the order on the Milwaukee Yamaha.

Ian Hutchinson was fifth fastest on the PBM Kawasaki and John McGuiness was the fastest Honda in sixth spot.

The Dunlop brothers Michael (MD Racing Yamaha) and William (CD Racing Yamaha) were second and third behind Seeley in the Supersport rankings and Michael Dunlop was again second to Seeley in the Superstock class on the MD Racing R1. Dean Harrison was third fastest on another R1 and Austrian Horst Saiger, the Superstock lap record holder for the 8.9 mile Triangle course, was fourth fastest.

In the Supertwins class James Hillier topped the times on the Quattro Plant ER6 Kawasaki.

“I am really pleased because I haven’t even tested the little bike since last year’s TT.” Hillier said afterwards.

Ryan Farquhar, who also practised in the Superbike and Superstock classes on his ZX10R Kawasakis, finished second on his SGS/KMR ER6. Jamie Hamilton was third fastest on the Cookstown BE Racing ER6 and Michael Dunlop was fourth on the McAdoo version. Jeremy McWilliams failed to qualify on a second SGS/KMR bike.

North West newcomer Glenn Irwin lived up to his own predictions of being a possible race winner by finishing fifth in the Supersport class listings on the Gear Link ZXR6RR Kawasaki. He was fired up by his first North West laps.

“It’s so fast – even more than I expected – and the chicanes just come up on you!” the British Supersport championship frontrunner smiled afterwards.

“I wouldn’t read into any of the day’s lap times though – I haven’t rode the six hundred in the dry yet! Hopefully Thursday will be dry, because I need the time on the bike in those conditions, but it’s been a good day nonetheless. I’m learning the track and I’m enjoying it.”

But the day belonged to Alastair Seeley and all of his rivals will be looking forward to Thursday’s session to see if they can close the gap on the Wee Wizard.

More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Practice sessions get underway for the North West 200

Today the 2015 North West 200 got underway with the first Superbike practice session this morning taking place in wet and windy conditions.

The original planned 45-minute session was cut short to 30-minutes due to the weather conditions and Honda Racing’s John McGuinness and Conor Cummins placed sixth and 12th on the timesheet. Even with the tricky conditions McGuinness was joint third fastest, recording 176mph on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP through the speed trap.

Honda Racing’s duo will be back out on Thursday for qualifying ahead of the two Superbike races on Saturday 16 May.

John McGuinness

We’ve had a solid start to the North West 200 to be fair, the conditions during practice were tricky with gusty winds and it was probably the worst conditions I’ve ever ridden in around here. I think everyone did an intelligent job out there; everyone’s safe and back in one piece. It was difficult going but the bike was good, I’m good and the wrist I broke last year is feeling good – bring on Thursday!

Conor Cummins

This morning’s session was tricky, wet and windy and the organisers did well to get it going. I was going well on the Fireblade and came in towards the end of the session and was up to fifth, but then the heavens opened and I dropped a few places when I went back out as I couldn’t go any faster. But Thursday is another day and I am looking forward to getting out again.

More, from a press release issued by Tyco Suzuki:

SEELEY TOPS THE LEADERBOARD WITH TYCO BMW AT NORTH WEST 200

Alastair Seeley made the perfect start to this year’s International North West 200 putting his Tyco BMW Motorrad machinery on provisional pole spots in both the Superbike and Superstock classes.

Today’s opening practice and qualifying session at the 8.9-mile road circuit was met with inclement weather conditions, leaving the 12-time winner to dig deep and use all his experience to top both sessions.

His team-mates William Dunlop and Guy Martin took ninth and tenth in the Superbike class and fifth and seventh respectively in the Superstock class, which offered up the best on-track conditions during the day. All three men are now qualified in the aforementioned classes and will be looking to improve their times in Thursday morning’s session prior to the evening Superstock race over six laps [scheduled 8pm start].

Alastair Seeley: “There was a lot of traffic out there today, but both BMW Motorrad machines worked very well on track and helped me top the timesheets. We will look over the data between now and Thursday with a fine-tooth comb, but we are going in the right direction and taking the conditions into consideration, I think the whole team did a great job today.”

William Dunlop: “Those conditions are exactly what you don’t want on day one at the North West 200, but we got through the day and will look forward to what looks like a dry session on Thursday when today’s times will probably count for nothing. It already looks like Alastair will be the man to beat but we’ll be doing our best to be up there on the front row with him and fighting for the wins.”

Guy Martin: “It’s a tough way to start the roads season in those conditions, so I just kept it smooth and used the track time to gain as much information as we could get. Alastair did a mint job for the team, but dry track time on Thursday is what I’m looking for and the aim is to be in around the sharp end for sure.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager: “It doesn’t necessarily determine the outcome of race day, but it is always nice to get off to a good start at the North West 200. Today brought some varied weather conditions which no doubt had an impact on the mixed results from some of the other favourites; however come race day I’m sure the usual runners will be battling for the podium positions.

“Today went perfectly for Alastair showing the potential of the Tyco BMW Motorrad S1000RR machinery in both wet and dry conditions, and although William and Guy are a little further down the grid – there are no major problems to report at this stage and I’m sure they will both be in the running come race day.”

Superbike Qualifying [wet]:

PP – Alastair Seeley [Tyco BMW] 4min 53.639sec; 2nd – Gary Johnson [Kawasaki] +3.737sec; 3rd – Lee Johnston [BMW] +5.654; 4th – Dean Harrison [Yamaha] +7.507sec; 5th – Ian Hutchinson [Kawasaki] +8.018sec; 6th – John McGuinness [Honda] +8.410sec; 9th – William Dunlop [Tyco BMW] +11.025sec; 10th – Guy Martin [Tyco BMW] +11.802sec

Superstock Qualifying [Drying Track]:

PP – Alastair Seeley [Tyco BMW] 4min 32.953sec; 2nd – Michael Dunlop [Yamaha] +4.281sec; 3rd – Dean Harrison [Yamaha] +5.708sec; 4th – Horst Saiger [Kawasaki] +8.067sec; 5th – William Dunlop [BMW] +9.585sec; 6th – Michael Rutter [BMW] +9.890; 7th – Guy Martin [Tyco BMW] +9.899sec

Thursday Qualifying & Race Schedule

Thursday Qualifying – Roads close 9.15am through to 2.45pm

Thursday Night Racing – Roads close 5.15pm through to 9pm: Tyco BMW will be involved in Race 3 – Superstock [6 laps] scheduled for an 8pm start