Tyco Suzuki’s William Dunlop topped the opening Supersport session on the first day of North West 200 qualifying, beating Michael Rutter by more than a second while Alastair Seeley ended the session in third.

Dunlop went round in 4’41.401 compared to Rutter’s 4’42.785 but the veteran had early machine trouble with the Smith Triumph, which is making its debut at the nine-mile triangle this year as did Seeley, who had an engine problem on the Mar-Train Yamaha.

Lee Johnston finished in fourth place on his Pirtek-backed Honda with Gary Johnson in fifth. Guy Martin bagged sixth with John McGuinness seventh and Michael Dunlop eighth. Josh Brookes got his first run out on the Milwaukee Yamaha after his Cadwell Park test and put in six laps to finish ninth, one place ahead of Bruce Anstey.

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