Ryan Farquhar will line up in pole position for the two Supertwins races at the International North West 200 after the SGS International/KMR Kawasaki rider topped Thursday morning’s second qualifying session.
With sunny, dry but windy conditions, the 39-year old posted a lap of 106.536mph to be 1.7s clear of Martin Jessopp who placed second on the VRS Performance Kawasaki, with James Hillier on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki in third, the duo close together at 105.930mph and 105.745mph respectively.
The session had to be stopped early on due to a crash involving James Cowton at Church Corner but when it resumed, Farquhar was quickest out the blocks and lapped at 105.971mph before improving to the aforementioned 106mph+ lap. Jessopp and Hillier were also well to the fore as was former GP winner Jeremy McWilliams on the second SGS International/KMR Kawasaki.
Mid way through the session it was Farquhar, Jessopp, Hillier, McWilliams, Jamie Hamilton and Glenn Irwin and that was how the top six remained, the latter named stoping out on the course with just a few minutes of the session remaining.
Michael Dunlop, Derek McGee, former 125cc British Champion Christian Elkin and Michael Sweeney rounded out the top ten.
