Seeley tops opening session at North West 200

Alastair Seeley got off to a strong start at this year’s North West 200, topping the opening Supersport practice by 3.8 seconds over Ian Hutchinson.

The 600s left the grid for the first session of the week in perfect conditions with the sun shining down on the 8.970 mile Triangle circuit.

Seeley’s lap of 4’37.395 placed him comfortably ahead of Came BPT Yamaha rider Hutchinson with Martin Jessopp taking an impressive third on the Riders Motorcycles Triumph.

Diminutive Ulsterman Lee Johnston set the fourth fastest time to show he’s not going to be held up by injuries sustained in a crash at the Scarborough Spring Cup three weeks ago.

John McGuinness put in a strong showing in what’s become one of his weakest categories to set the fifth fastest time ahead of the Kawasaki of Dean Harrison and Yamaha of Michael Dunlop.

Bruce Anstey was eighth fastest ahead of William Dunlop, who gave his own Yamaha R6 its first run out after a last minute split with the CD Racing squad. James Hillier rounded out the top ten on the Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki.