It is the tried and tested BikeBitsNI Kawasaki of Dubliner Derek Sheils who will start from Pole position for to morrows KDM Cookstown 100 road races. In action for the first time on Irish tarmac, Michael Dunlop on the Milwaukee R1M Yamaha is in second place ahead of the Wilson Craig Honda of Derek McGee. Despite a slip off on lap four of qualifying, Michael Sweeney did enough to qualify on the front row in fourth spot.

Making a welcome return to Cookstown, Guy Martin on the Tyco BMW was 5th ahead of Jamie Hamilton on the B.E.Racing Suzuki.

Alan Bonner on the Peoplesbike.com Kawasaki was 7th ahead of MarTrains Dean Harrison, who will start from the second group. Alongside Harrison will be  the BMWs of Stephen Thompson and William Dunlop.

Derek Sheils “ Good to be on Pole, got few good laps, bit damp for the 600 practice, so wasn’t going to stick my neck out, but its going to be a very close race to morrow, So many good lads here!”

In the 600 class, it was William Dunlop who topped the leaderboard , Three quarters of a second quicker than Derek McGee and Jamie Hamilton. Despite a slightly damp track for the second qualifying, Michael Dunlop was quick enough to qualify in 4th spot, ahead of Harrison and Cowton.

The supertwins are led by James Cowtown from Hamilton and Andy Farrell, with Michael Dunlop in 4th ahead of Sweeney and Derek McGee.

Constant drizzle slowed the speeds in later sessions, but the organizers continued with timed practices for all classes. With the track becoming somewhat slippery, due to the recent spell of good weather, the Clerk of the Course, Francis Everard  decided that with all practices sorted, in grounds of safety, Racing would begin tomorrow.

Rain is forecasted for this evening and early morning, turning to brighter weather as the day progresses,  it looks pretty certain, that the days racing will start with the Non Championship races, followed by the championship races, when the weather picks up.

Other leaderboard  placings, Ian Morrell topped the 400 supersport from Vic Allan, Sam Wilson on the Joeys Bar Honda topped the 125/moto3 class from Nigel Moore and Paul Jordan, with road race debutant, Adam McLean in 4th spot.

McLean was also impressive in the junior support, qualifying second to former Manx Grand Prix newcomers winner, Ben Rea. In the senior support, Cookstowns Dean Campbell topped the leaderboard from Brian Coomey .

Despite a spill towards the end of the senior Classic Session, Robert McCrum and Jamie O Brein topped the leaderboard. Both riders went down, but uninjured. Wattie Brown heads the 500 class from Barry Davison with Nigel Moore topping the leaderboard in the 350 class from  Davison. Philip Shaw leads the 250 class from Wattie Brown.

Roads Close Saturday at 10.00am.

The message is, get there early, and Please support the Club, by purchasing a Race Programme