Be Wiser Ducati rider Glenn Irwin got off to the perfect start in defending his Sunflower Trophy title by winning the opening Superbike race today at Bishopscourt.

Favourite to lift the prestigious trophy he set the quickest times in both practice sessions then went on to win the first Superbike race of the weekend which was programmed for Saturday but brought forward due to the bad weather forecast for the main race day.

Michael Laverty, who signed for Tyco BMW earlier in the week and is hoping to add to his six previous Sunflower, wins finished second 1.7 seconds behind the Carrick man with another former winner of the trophy Danny Buchan MSS Kawasaki taking the flag in third a further five seconds behind. Alastair Seeley on the IFS Yamaha R1 was fourth and Carl Philips MD Racing Suzuki fifth.

In the Supersport class Robert Kennedy set the fastest lap putting him on pole for tomorrow’s races, with Ulster Supersport Championship contenders Korie McGreevey and Jason Lynn second and third quickest.