NW200: Honda Racing's Dean Harrison claims Superbike pole from Glenn Irwin
Dean Harrison clinched Superbike pole at the North West 200 on Thursday evening on a sad day at the event following a fatal accident.
A rider tragically died in an incident in Superbike qualifying on Thursday morning. His family have requested that he is not named at this time.
A revised schedule was implemented on Thursday evening, with qualifying replacing the first three races.
Harrison, who has never won a race at the North West, was in fine form on the Honda Racing Fireblade, posting the fastest lap of 124.6mph to secure the top spot by 2.328s from Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati), who lapped at 123.491mph.
Wednesday pacesetter Richard Coope was third quickest on the SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW at 122.64mph ahead of Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda).
Michael Dunlop slotted into fifth on the time sheets on the Hawk/MD Racing Honda (122.226mph) while newcomer Storm Stacey again impressed as he qualified fifth, lapping at 122.179mph on the Alpha Racing by GRYD BMW. The 23-year-old also went out on the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati V4R earlier in the session.
Ian Hutchinson (Team RST BMW), Peter Hickman (Monster BMW Motorrad), Erno Kostamo (RVS BMW) and John McGuinness (Honda Racing).