Ducati's hopes of adding to their 10 Northwest 200 victories were given a huge boost on Thursday when the Rapid Solicitors Bathams machines of Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp scored a resounding one in the final qualifying session for Saturday's two Superbike races.
The duo took it in turns to top the leaderboard but it was Rutter who assumed control with 20 minutes of the one-hour session remaining despite suffering from a slight brake fluid leak. The BSB veteran posted a best time of 4'26.336s to end the session just 0.570s ahead of team-mate Jessopp with Michael Dunlop on the PBM/Street Sweep Kawasaki comfortably the best of the home contingent in third. There was disappointment however for Alastair Seeley, the Relentless Suzuki rider spending the majority of the session in the pits due to a fuel pressure problem.
It was Jessopp who set the early pace to lead from Guy Martin and Cameron Donald and the Yeovil rider, still recovering from leg injuries sustained at Mallory last year, continually lapped quicker than his rivals to edge clear.
However, on the 40-minute mark Rutter posted the first 121mph+ lap of the week to go quickest and it was ultimately his lap of 121.245mph that saw him take the pole position. Dunlop pushed Jessopp back to third on his final lap but the Ducati man responded immediately and, the last man out on the circuit crossed the line in a speed of 120.986mph to make it a memorable day for father Phil's team.
Further back, Martin held onto fourth from Donald with Gary Johnson rounding out a good day in sixth whilst Seeley's lap from Tuesday means he'll line up in seventh on the grid. Meanwhile, Conor Cummins was another man in trouble, the McAdoo Racing rider suffering an oil leak whilst Bruce Anstey was lucky to avoid a near highside on the exit of Metropole.
Simon Andrews and James Hillier ended a good day in ninth and tenth respectively.
Leaderboard
1 Michael Rutter (Ducati) 4m26.336s - 121.245mph
2 Martin Jessopp (Ducati) 4m26.906s - 120.986mph
3 Michael Dunlop (Kawasaki) 4m27.337s - 120.791mph
4 Guy Martin (Suzuki) 4m29.083s - 120.008mph
5 Cameron Donald (Honda) 4m29.227s - 119.943mph
6 Gary Johnson (Honda) 4m30.420s - 119.414mph
Click here for full timesheets
