Relentless Suzuki's Alastair Seeley lapped inside the class lap record on his way to seeting pole position for Saturday's North West 200 Superstock race although the session was overshadowed by an incident involving MSS Colchester Kawasaki team-mates Stuart Easton and Gary Mason.

The incident occurred on the opening lap of the session at Cromore, half way between the Mill Road roundabout and Cromore. Ryan Farquhar, the first man to come across the incident, described the scene as looking like a bombsite. Mason was unhurt although his participation in the remainder of the meeting remains unclear.

After a 50-minute delay, the session re-started and it was Seeley who set the pace throughout, his best lap eventually getting the better of Michael Dunlop on the lead Kawasaki by just under a second. Seeley overcame brake problems to be inside Michael Rutter's year old lap record.

"There were a few damp patches at the roundabout but otherwise conditions were perfect and the changes we'd made to the brakes after Tuesday worked really well. We did lose a bit of stability so we reverted back to Tuesday night's settings on the rear shock mid way through the session and were able to take the pole. I'm feeling relaxed and happy with the bike so there's more to come although it obviously depends on what the weather will do come race day," said Seeley, speaking to bikesportnews.com this afternoon.

Dunlop took over second late in the session, pushing Michael Rutter back to third, the veteran showing good form on the Rapid Solicitors Bathams Ducati normally ridden by Michael Booth. Gary Johnson, William Dunlop and Ryan Farquhar rounded out the top six with James Hillier, having just his second outing at the Triangle, in 7th. Simon Andrews was the lead newcomer in 15th with comeback man Les Shand in 20th, one place behind Conor Cummins.

Leaderboard

1 Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) 4m29.762s - 119.706mph

2 Michael Dunlop (Kawasaki) 4m30.616s - 119.328mph

3 Michael Rutter (Ducati) 4m33.571s - 118.039mph

4 Gary Johnson (Honda) 4m33.678s - 117.993mph

5 William Dunlop (Honda) 4m35.418s - 117.247mph

6 Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) 4m35.433s - 117.241mph