Isle of Man TT lap record holder Peter Hickman topped the opening North West 200 qualifying session this afternoon, lapping 1.4s faster than Lee Johnston with Michael Dunlop in third place.
Hickman took his Smiths BMW to a 4’25.891 with Ashcourt Racing’s Johnston on a 4’27.328. Tyco BMW’s Dunlop was 0.062s further back on the new S1000RR.
James Hiller took his Quattro Kawasaki to fourth with a 4’28.145 and veteran Michael Rutter claimed fifth on his Bathams BMW.
Glenn Irwin was sixth with rookie Richard Cooper taking his Buildbase Suzuki to seventh with Dean Harrison eighth but five seconds slower than his main TT rival.
Davey Todd, Paul Jordan, Ian Hutchinson, Craig Neve, Gary Johnson, David Johnson and Derek Sheils completed the top 16.