Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams made it two pole positions in a row at the AMCN International Island Classic, as he stole the limelight from the Aussies.
McWilliams, 50, stopped the clock with a 1min37.644sec on a set of used tyres openly admitted that he felt that he couldn’t have snared pole position as he and some of the other British lads have been having a few issues with their machines.
“It’s nice when it comes together” McWilliams told bikesportnews.com. “I just got a clear bit of track and kind of hung it out there and got it. It’s a nice feeling. However I would prefer some of our team up there in the mix. The Aussies are still bloody strong as always!”
Second place to the former 250/500 Grand Prix star was Cam Donald aboard the DMR Motorsport Suzuki XR69. Donald’s time of a 1min37.717 was set in qualifying one, just before he hit the deck running after he along with the 2011 FIM European Superstock 600 champion, Jed Metcher (Scott Owen Race Developments/Race Centre/Batteries North) and the 1999 Australian Superbike and 2009 World Endurance champion Steve Martin (TBR/D&D/Springwood Suzuki) came off at Doohan corner after a bike dumped oil halfway around the circuit.
Donald did not take part in qualifying two, and for someone who only did three laps in total was pretty happy with the outcome. “To remain in P2 after only doing three laps is pretty exciting after hitting oil and nearly totalling the bike,” said the likeable Victorian. “It’s good to hold onto a front row position for tomorrow as the racing will be red from the word get goes!”
Lining up third on the grid will be South Australian hotshot, Brendan Roberts (TBR/D&D/Springwood Suzuki) with teammate Martin alongside him in fourth.
Completing the top five with a 1min38.823 is Metcher, which is pretty damn impressive when you think about it! Seeing yesterday the twenty-four old did not have the Katana to test as the bike was still getting the last few touches, along with his crash in qualifying one, it was a handy ride by Metcher.
Metcher, who will race for the PR Racing Kawasaki team in this year’s BSB Superbike championship said: “To sum it up, we need more track time. Of course yesterday I didn’t get any laps and that crash this morning has put us a bit behind, as we have only done around a total of twenty laps. To be with in a second of pole is not too bad. Scott Owen has done an amazing job on the engine; it’s really, really strong and Darren Sciberras from Race Center has done wonders with the suspension with the lack of time that we have had on track.”
Metcher also added that he will have to get a good start tomorrow to be able to run with the fronyt leading lads and mix it up with the ‘old fellas’.
Just outside the top five is last year’s joint winner of the Ken Wootton Perpetual, Shawn Giles.
Meanwhile, the twenty-one times winner of the IOM TT, John McGuinness, will hopefully start from eleventh on the grid – but is in doubt, after his engine dropped its guts late in qualifying; while Australia has already been dealt a body blow with ‘Mr Superbike’ Robbie Phillis withdrawing after a piston cracked on his Suzuki XR69.
Two races will be conducted tomorrow with another two on Sunday.
