Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman has topped the timsheets in the opening qualifying session at the 2017 Ulster Grand Prix and is already knocking on the door of a 132mph lap.
The Lincolnshire rider stuck in a 131.757 to top today’ timesheets but had company from Bruce Anstey on the Padgetts RC213V-S and team-mate Conor Cummins, who is riding the less exotic Fireblade. Anstey clocked a 1’31.071 with Manxman Cummins on a 130.508.
William Dunlop took his Temple Golf-backed R1 to fourth place with a 129.428 with Irish Roads runaway leader Derek Sheils in fifth on a 128.336. Michael Dunlop was sixth on a 128.177 with Dean Harrison next along. Dan Kneen, Jamie Coward and David Johnson completed the top ten.
Lee Johnston, who is returning from injury, ended in 11th place with Daley Mathison, Derek McGee, Phil Crowe and Sam West rounding out the top 15.
