Road racing veteran Michael Rutter set the lead pace at the 2011 North West 200, The Blade turning the Triangle circuit at 121.245 mph aboard his Ducati mount. The fastest rider in Tuesday’s opening sessions, Suzuki’s Alastair Seeley was the fastest man in Supersport and Superstock. The Thursday qualifying sessions were marred, however, by news of injuries to MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Stuart Easton.
A North West 200 winner many times over, Michael Rutter will start Saturday's Superbike race from pole position. The Blade setting the pace at 121.245 mph aboard his Ducati.
Easton was involved in an incident involving his teammate Gary Mason during the first practice session of the day. Mason escaped unhurt, but Easton sustained multiple injuries. A team statement reports: “Stuart has been transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast to undergo an operation with injuries to his femur, pelvis, hand and a suspected bowel injury.”
Easton was initially taken to the nearby Causeway Hospital in Coleraine before the Scot was transferred to Belfast. A regular at the North West, Easton broke the top speed record in last year’s NW200 at 206 mph. Easton also claimed victory in the 2010 Macau Grand Prix and is a contender in the British Superbike Championship.
Rutter was the sole rider to crest into the 121 mph mark, with his Ducati teammate Martin Jessopp the closest rival on the Superbike timesheet. As expected, Kawasaki rider Michael Dunlop moved up on the qualifying sheet to third-overall, followed by Suzuki’s Guy Martin.
In Supersport Seeley led the way ahead of Honda rider Gary Johnson. Michael Dunlop, who campaigns a Yamaha in the 600 class, was third-fastest. Bruce Anstey was fourth on the SS sheets, the Kiwi now riding for Padgetts Honda. Seeley will start the Supertock race from pole position with Michael Dunlop second and Rutter third-fastest.
The North West 200 races commence on Saturday, featuring a pair of Superbike and Supersport races with a single Superstock contest.
2011 North West 200 Superbike Qualifying Results:
Michael Dunlop looks for his first NW200 win on the literbike, starting from the front row in Superbike and Supertock. 1. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 121.245 mph
2. Martin Jessopp (Ducati) 120.986 mph
3. Michael Dunlop (Kawasaki) 120.791 mph
4. Guy Martin (Suzuki) 120.008 mph
5. Cameron Donald (Honda) 119.943 mph
6. Gary Johnson (Honda) 119.414 mph
7. Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) 119.094 mph
8. Bruce Anstey (Honda) 118.903 mph
9. William Dunlop (Honda) 118.411 mph
10. Simon Andrews (Kawasaki) 118.372 mph
2011 North West 200 Supersport Qualifying Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) 115.937 mph
2. Gary Johnson (Honda) 115.437 mph
3. Michael Dunlop (Yamaha) 115.149 mph
4. Bruce Anstey (Honda) 114.649 mph
5. William Dunlop (Honda) 114.417 mph
6. Cameron Donald (Honda) 114.295 mph
7. Guy Martin (Suzuki) 113.812 mph
8. Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) 113.726 mph
9. Lee Johnston (Honda) 112.965 mph
10. Ian Lougher (Kawasaki) 112.771 mph
2011 North West 200 Superstock Qualifying Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) 119.706 mph
2. Michael Dunlop (Kawasaki) 119.328 mph
3. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 118.039 mph
4. Gary Johnson (Honda) 117.993 mph
5. William Dunlop (Honda) 117.247 mph
6. Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) 117.241 mph
7. James Hillier (Kawasaki) 116.972 mph
8. Cameron Donald (Honda) 116.949 mph
9. Guy Martin (Suzuki) 116.811 mph
10. Ian Lougher (Kawasaki) 116.738 mph
A North West 200 winner many times over, Michael Rutter will start Saturday's Superbike race from pole position. The Blade setting the pace at 121.245 mph aboard his Ducati.
Easton was involved in an incident involving his teammate Gary Mason during the first practice session of the day. Mason escaped unhurt, but Easton sustained multiple injuries. A team statement reports: “Stuart has been transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast to undergo an operation with injuries to his femur, pelvis, hand and a suspected bowel injury.”
Easton was initially taken to the nearby Causeway Hospital in Coleraine before the Scot was transferred to Belfast. A regular at the North West, Easton broke the top speed record in last year’s NW200 at 206 mph. Easton also claimed victory in the 2010 Macau Grand Prix and is a contender in the British Superbike Championship.
Rutter was the sole rider to crest into the 121 mph mark, with his Ducati teammate Martin Jessopp the closest rival on the Superbike timesheet. As expected, Kawasaki rider Michael Dunlop moved up on the qualifying sheet to third-overall, followed by Suzuki’s Guy Martin.
In Supersport Seeley led the way ahead of Honda rider Gary Johnson. Michael Dunlop, who campaigns a Yamaha in the 600 class, was third-fastest. Bruce Anstey was fourth on the SS sheets, the Kiwi now riding for Padgetts Honda. Seeley will start the Supertock race from pole position with Michael Dunlop second and Rutter third-fastest.
The North West 200 races commence on Saturday, featuring a pair of Superbike and Supersport races with a single Superstock contest.
2011 North West 200 Superbike Qualifying Results:
Michael Dunlop looks for his first NW200 win on the literbike, starting from the front row in Superbike and Supertock.
2. Martin Jessopp (Ducati) 120.986 mph
3. Michael Dunlop (Kawasaki) 120.791 mph
4. Guy Martin (Suzuki) 120.008 mph
5. Cameron Donald (Honda) 119.943 mph
6. Gary Johnson (Honda) 119.414 mph
7. Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) 119.094 mph
8. Bruce Anstey (Honda) 118.903 mph
9. William Dunlop (Honda) 118.411 mph
10. Simon Andrews (Kawasaki) 118.372 mph
2011 North West 200 Supersport Qualifying Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) 115.937 mph
2. Gary Johnson (Honda) 115.437 mph
3. Michael Dunlop (Yamaha) 115.149 mph
4. Bruce Anstey (Honda) 114.649 mph
5. William Dunlop (Honda) 114.417 mph
6. Cameron Donald (Honda) 114.295 mph
7. Guy Martin (Suzuki) 113.812 mph
8. Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) 113.726 mph
9. Lee Johnston (Honda) 112.965 mph
10. Ian Lougher (Kawasaki) 112.771 mph
2011 North West 200 Superstock Qualifying Results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Suzuki) 119.706 mph
2. Michael Dunlop (Kawasaki) 119.328 mph
3. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 118.039 mph
4. Gary Johnson (Honda) 117.993 mph
5. William Dunlop (Honda) 117.247 mph
6. Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) 117.241 mph
7. James Hillier (Kawasaki) 116.972 mph
8. Cameron Donald (Honda) 116.949 mph
9. Guy Martin (Suzuki) 116.811 mph
10. Ian Lougher (Kawasaki) 116.738 mph
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