Michael Rutter set the fastest time in second qualifying for the North West 200 Superstock race with a lap of 109.009mph and he edged out Bruce Anstey (108.767) although he will start from 27th place on the grid after failing to qualify on Tuesday afternoon.
It was Alastair Seeley that set the pace and after ten minutes he was quickest at 105.128mph followed by McGuinness at 104.911 and Cummins at 104.834, the latter keen to post a time having also failed to qualify on Tuesday. The same applied to Ian Hutchinson and he admitted he wouldn't be racing in the damp conditions later today, preferring instead to save himself for, hopefully, dryer conditions on Saturday. Meanwhile, William Dunlop was an early vistitor to the pits to alter the gearing on the Wilson Craig Honda.
Seeley was briefly replaced at the top by Bruce Anstey who lapped at 107.484 with Padgetts Honda team-mate McGuinness also breaking the 107mph mark although he had to pit after having a stone hit his helmet along the coast road. As the rain eased, Seeley was able to move back to the top and was the first rider above 108mph with a lap of 108.095mph whilst team-mate Cummins was quickest through the speed trap at 185mph.
However, a late lap by Anstey of 108.767mph was enough to make him fastest but he was upstaged in the final minutes by Rutter with the rain subsiding further although his lap was still some 22 seconds down on the best lap of Tuesday afternoon set by Ryan Farquhar. A late flurry of activity also saw Michael and William Dunlop and Guy Martin also jump up the leaderboard although the times - except for Rutter, Cummins, the Dunlops and Hutchinson were relatively immaterial.
So, it will be KMR Kawasaki rider Farquhar (who didn't go out in today's session) who will line up on pole for a second time this time from Seeley and McGuinness. Stephen Thompson, Anstey and Cameron Donald will be on the 2nd row whilst Lee Johnston is a further row back in eighth on the Millsport Racing Ducati Panigale.
