William Dunlop Racing #6 NW200 Tuesday Practice Report

 William Dunlop on the Wilson Craig Honda's, completed eleven qualifying laps on both his Wilson Craig Superbike and Superstock machines during first practice for this year Relentless Energy Drinks North West 200  on Tuesday evening.

In what could only be described as difficult and changing conditions, Dunlop set his fastest lap of the evening in the Superstock practice with a time of 4m37.602s, a speed of 116.325mph which saw the Ballymoney lad take the fourth fastest Superstock time of the evening.

In the Superbike practice session which was held in the most difficult of conditions, Dunlop took seventh fastest lap time at 4m40.424s, a speed of 115.154mph.

Dunlop however experienced some difficulties during the Supersport 600 practice session which saw the young Ballymoney rider fail to record a qualifying lap in that class. but he was later given permission by the race Director Mervyn Whyte to take in a few laps on the Wilson Craig Honda Supersport machine in the final Superstock practice session.

William Dunlop:  "I am pleased enough with how the first practice night went, considering the conditions.  The roads where a little damp in and around the magic roundabout section of the circuit so I took it easy through that section.  There was a strong wind coming across the road on the Coast Road section, which caught me out a couple of times, but I think that we can produce much more on Thursday if the weather improves in time.   We managed to change a few setting on the 600 machine, and I need a good run on her now on Thursday practice, but all in all, not bad for the first night".

Relentless International North West 200

Tuesday Night Practice Times:

Superbike Qualifying:

1 = Alastair Seeley       Relentless Suzuki     119.094mph

2 = Michael Rutter       Bathams Ducati         118.679mph

3 = Martin Jessopp      Bathams Ducati         116.949mph

4 = Gary Johnson          East Coast Honda     116.436mph

5 = Stephen Thompson  T&R BMW                115.293mph

7th William Dunlop        Wilson Craig Honda  115.154mph

Superstock Qualifying:

1 = Alastair Seeley       Relentless Suzuki     118.420mph

2 = Michael Dunlop       Street Sweep Kawasaki   118.401mph

3 = Michael Rutter       Bathams Ducati          116.736mph

4 = William Dunlop        Wilson Craig Honda   116.325mph

5 = Ian Lougher            Blackhorse Kawasaki 116.286mph

Supersport 600 Qualifying

1 = Cameron Donald      Wilson Craig Honda    114.295mph

2 = Alastair Seeley       Relentless Suzuki      114.252mph

3 = Michael Dunlop        Street Sweep Yamaha   112.639mph

4 = Gary Johnson          East Coast Honda       112.095mph

5 = Bruce Anstey          Padgetts Honda          111.222mph

William Dunlop No Qualifying Lap

Pic:  William Dunlop at Black Hill on the Wilson Craig Superbike

Picture by Alan Armstrong