World Supersport challenger Martin Jessopp may have blitzed the top speed record at the Relentless International North West 200 after rocketing through the timing beam at a mind-blowing 208mph on Tuesday, but it was Ulster hero Alastair Seeley who topped the Superbike and Supersport time-sheets.

Jessopp, a rising talent on the roads who finished on the rostrum behind Michael Rutter at the Macau Grand Prix in November, consistently shattered the previous best speed of 204mph established by Scottish rider Stuart Easton on Shaun Muir’s Swan Honda two years ago during opening practice on the North Coast.

Jessopp nudged 205mph before the Yeovil rider upped the pace on his Riders Ducati 1198 to 206mph.

But more was to come as he raised the bar even further to an incredible 208mph on the ultra-fast run from Station Corner to University.

Jessopp was aided by a brisk tail wind, but that won’t stop him entering the history books at the famous international road race as the fastest rider ever in a straight line.

Nevertheless, Jessopp - competing in the World Supersport series this year under the Riders PTR Honda banner - was only fifth fastest overall as Carrick star Seeley lived up to his billing as the big favourite by taking the top times on his BSB-spec GSX-R1000 Superbike and GSX-R600 Suzukis.

Seeley’s best lap of 120.68mph for the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ circuit put him ahead of Honda TT Legends ace John McGuinness, who was over three seconds in arrears with a best average lap speed of 119.23mph.

Ballymoney’s William Dunlop was third quickest on Wilson Craig’s Honda (118.43mph) as two Ulster riders filled the top three positions, with tea lover Guy Martin (117.91mph) ahead of record-breaker Jessopp (117.61mph).

Swan Yamaha’s Ian Hutchinson was a magnificent sixth on the World Superbike-spec YZF-R1 at 117.56mph, narrowly in front of Michael Dunlop on the Hunts Motorcycles/McAdoo Honda (117.54mph).

Seeley said:

“I’ve done my homework and the plan was to go fast from the start. It could turn out to be crucial that we were P1 in the Superbike and Supersport sessions today if the weather turns bad later in the week.

“I felt good on the Superbike and we haven’t changed it much from BSB.”

Reigning British Supersport champion Seeley took the top time in the 600cc class with an average speed of 113.24mph, just under a second faster than team-mate Guy Martin (112.87mph), with McGuinness impressing on the Padgetts Honda at 112.41mph.

The top six was completed by William Dunlop on Wilson Craig’s Honda, Gary Johnson on his privately run CBR600RR and Stefano Bonetti.

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