NW200 Superstocks: Dunlop on lap record pace for pole

Michael Dunlop has taken pole for the two superstock races at the North West 200 with a stunning late lap around the 9 mile Triangle circuit, only 0.1 from the lap record held by fellow front row starter Michael Rutter.

With lap records traditionally set in the races – with the help of the slipstreaming effect of the long straights – Dunlop’s time signals the expected pace of tonight’s opening six lap race.

However, he wasn’t the only rider running with lap record pace, with Alastair Seeley only 0.15 seconds back on him, taking second spot and demoting Rutter to third after mechanical problems ruled him out of a fast lap on Tuesday night.

Rutter is 0.7 seconds back from Seeley, while two of his former teammates head the second row in the form of Martin Jessop and Simon Andrews, while Austrian Horst Saiger gets demoted from provisional pole to sixth.

Bruce Anstey heads the second row in seventh, with local star and teammate to Rutter Stephen Thompson in eighth, and Conor Cummins completing the row.