NW200: Irwin pips Harrison and Dunlop to superbike pole

Glenn Irwin will start Saturday’s North West 200 Superbike races from pole position after a close-fought qualifying saw the front row split by less than a tenth of a second.

Irwin’s time of 4’23.708 placed him 0.066 seconds ahead of Silicone Engineering Kawasaki’s Dean Harrison with Michael Dunlop a further 0.028 seconds back in third.

The session wasn’t without its interruptions, however, after an oil spill in the supersport session delayed the start before technical issues for both Lee Johnston and Gary Johnston brought out red flags with half an hour to go leaving riders a short 20-minute session to secure their places on the grid.

Mr North West 200 Alastair Seeley held pole for most of the session before ending up fourth on the second of the Tyco BMWs, ahead of Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp completing an all S1000RR third row.

Peter Hickman heads up row three for Smiths BMW ahead of William Dunlop while the Hondas of Conor Cummins and Lee Johnston round out the top ten.

Ian Hutchinson, returning from that horrific leg injury, qualified an impressive 13^th.

Both Superbike races will take place on Saturday.