The Carrickfergus man topped all three classes he is competing in at the seaside event on Tuesday and he repeated the feat today, taking pole position for Saturday’s Superbike races on the Tyco BMW S1000RR. The 34 year old also topped the leaderboard in the Superstock and Supersport sessions.

“All of the bikes are working well and it just seemed that all the riders who start in front of me are coming back to me.” a delighted Seeley said afterwards.

“We didn’t make any major changes to the bike from Tuesday because there is no point in fixing what isn’t broken. I made a tyre change on the Stocker that I wanted to try on the big bike but the session was cut short and I didn’t get the chance.”

Seeley must now feel super confident going into Saturday’s Superbike races after finishing a massive 2.479 seconds faster than second placed Lee Johnston on the ECC/Burdens BMW with a lap of 121.552mph.

“We have a little issue with the brakes and hopefully when we get that sorted we will go faster.” Johnston said after grabbing the second front row spot on Saturday’s superbike grid.

“I only did two flying laps before I came in and those are the first two dry laps I have had on the bike.”

His fine superbike qualifying performance was consolation for the Fermanagh man after he failed to get in a lap during the Supersport session on the ECC/Burdens Triumph. The clutch broke on the opening lap and after Johnston returned to the pits and had it replaced he was forced to retire when the coil packed on the next lap.

Veteran John McGuinness, celebrating 25 years of racing this season, was third fastest on the factory Honda Fireblade.

“Don’t sound so surprised!” the 21 times TT winner joked.

“I knew we had a strong package and that I would be competitive. The front row is where you need to be and it’s a bonus because all of the best road racers in the world are here. I am in amongst all the fast kids on the fast bikes in the fast teams!”

The TT lap record holder, Bruce Anstey, was fourth fastest on the Padgett’s Valvoline Honda. William Dunlop was fifth quickest on a second Tyco BMW in spite of injuring his left hip after he highsided at York on the CD Racing Yamaha during the Supersport session.

13 times North West winner Michael Rutter finished just behind Dunlop on another BMW, the Penz13.com S1000RR.

Last year’s feature race winner, Michael Dunlop was over 5.5 seconds slower on the Milwaukee Yamaha than Seeley’s fastest time with Dean Harrison another 5/100ths back on the MarTrain R1.

Dunlop fared better in the Superstock class where he was only 0.752 seconds slower than Seeley on the stock version of the Milwaukee R1 with Lee Johnston once again making the top three on the ECR/Burdens BMW.

Comeback hero and 2012 winner, Ryan Farquhar topped the listings in the Supertwins class on his SGS/KMR Kawasaki ahead of Martin Jessopp (VRS Kawasaki) and James Hillier (Quattro Plant Kawasaki). Grand Prix legend Jeremy McWilliams was fourth quickest on a second SGS/KMR Kawasaki

In the Supersport class Bruce Anstey was second fastest to Seeley, 0.695 seconds slower with William Dunlop taking third in spite of his crash at York, which saw the session being red flagged. But once again it was newcomer Glenn Irwin who caused a sensation, taking fourth spot on the Gear Link Kawasaki.

“I am disappointed not to be on pole.” the Carrickfergus youngster said.

Irwin’s father Alan, one of the North West’s leading competitors of the Eighties and Nineties, has been giving his young protégé some tips on riding the 8.9 mile Triangle course.

“My nerves are shattered!” Irwin senior admitted after the session.

“But Glenn is doing really well and it is a long time since someone did what he is doing. He has been getting quicker on every lap.”

James Cowton will not be in action during this evening’s racing after sustaining a suspected dislocated shoulder after crashing the Stewart Smith ER6 Kawasaki at Church corner during the Supertwins qualifying session.

Racing commences on the Triangle course at 6pm this evening with roads closing at 5.15pm.

There will three races including: 

The EventServ Supersport Race over 6 laps, 

The Vauxhall Supertwin Race over 4 laps 

and

The Spidi Superstock Race over 6 laps


Seeley, Irwin and the rest of the North West 200 pack will take to the circuit on Saturday at 10am with roads closing at 9.15am.

Saturday’s race programme is scheduled as    

Betmclean.com Supersport Race (6 laps)

Monster Energy Superbike Race (7 laps)

The Anchor Portstewart Supertwin Race (4 laps)

CP Hire Superstock Race (6 laps)

Vauxhall NW200 Superbike Race (7 laps).