Peter Hickman (Smith’s Racing BMW) at Quarry Bends during today’s Superbike qualifying at the 2019 fonaCAB Ulster Grand Prix.
PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Peter Hickman has unofficially broken the existing outright lap record for the Dundrod circuit during today’s Superbike qualifying session at the 2019 fonaCAB Ulster Grand Prix.

The Smith’s BMW rider was 0.52 seconds inside the record as he claimed pole position with a speed of 134.969mph.

Hickman demonstrated metronomic precision as he put in eight successive laps with five of those being over 134mph.

Such was his pace, Hickman finished 2.49 seconds faster than Dean Harrison (Silicone Kawasaki) who was second quickest.

Harrison lapped at 133.287mph, 2.02 seconds ahead of third fastest Conor Cummins (Milenco Padgett’s Honda).

Derek Sheils, who has been doing most of the winning in the superbike class at the Irish National races this summer, posted a lap at 130.626mph on the RK Racing/Burrows Suzuki to claim a second row spot alongside Lee Johnston. The Ashcourt Racing BMW rider was 1.9 seconds faster than Shiels.

David Johnson (Honda Racing), Phil Crowe (Jackson Air Con BMW) and Jamie Coward (Prez Yamaha) filled the next three places on the timesheets, ahead of 9th quickest, Michael Dunlop (Tyco BMW) who was 8.8 second slower than Hickman’s time.

Waterford’s Brian McCormack completed the top ten on his ON-1 Racing BMW.

Davey Todd only managed two laps on the Wepol Penz13.com BMW, the quickest at 127.215mph, before returning to the pits and retiring from the session.