NW200: Jessopp takes Supertwins pole

Martin Jessopp will start on pole position for this evening’s opening Supertwins race at the 2017 Vauxhall North West 200 after coming within two tenths of the lap record in Thursday morning’s second qualifying session.

With the sun beaming down on the 8.9 mile circuit, conditions were almost perfect as riders set off from the grid at around 10am local time. With temperature slightly up on Tuesday’s practice, the pace was sure to improve and Jessopp laid the market with a quickest lap of 4’55.644 (average speed 109.226mph) early in the session.

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A late lap from Michael Rutter would see the veteran place second for Ryan Farquhar’s squad, some 1.16 seconds off Jessopp’s pace with Dan Cooper third.

Lee Johnston was fourth on the second Farquhar-run KMR machines, liveried in special Air Ambulance Northern Ireland colours, with current lap record holder Ivan Lintin fifth.

Irish Superbike Champion Derek Sheils placed sixth for the Cookstown BE racing squad, ahead of Adam McLean and James Cowton. Paul Jordan and Christian Elkin rounded out the top ten.

The opening Supertwins race is the final race on this evening’s schedule, set to get underway at approximately 19.45 local time. 

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