The lightweight class were greeted with bright blue skies in the Austrian hills as the times tumbled throughout the session. There was plenty of swapping and changing for P1 throughout FP1 but in the end it was Kornfeil who led the way, edging out Arbolino by 0.188 right at the end of play. Vietti leads Championship contender Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) who, in turn, sits just ahead of title rival and overall standings leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team).
The Rookies will take part in two races this weekend and with Tatay’s closest challenger Yuki Kunii out injured after his scary Czech GP wildcard crash, the emphasis will be on Pedro Costa, David Salvador and Jason Dupasquier to try and close the gap to the top.
No matter what you think of the rebirth of the venerable “Katana” name and the neo/retro styling, the 2020 Suzuki Katana is a highly polished rider’s delight.
It officially went on sale in Australia on Thursday at $18,990 (ride away with 12 months’ rego), but about 50 riders had already paid a $1000 deposit, mostly ageing former Katana owners or sons/daughters of Katana owners.
Now, Suzuki Australia has to encourage young riders and new Katana converts.
However, be quick as only 4000 will be made, says Suzuki Australia marketing manager Lewis Croft.
If customers are attracted to its origami styling, they may just find a highly enjoyable bike that is as easy to ride fast through the twisties as it is to sedately filter through traffic.
That’s no mean feat for engine architecture derived from the GSX.
But Suzuki has done it with a superbly sophisticated and refined engine, transmission and MotoGP-inspired chassis.
Styling
Silver and Glass Sparkle Black
This is the controversial aspect.
When the silver Katana was unveiled at the 2018 Intermot show in October and then the “Glass Sparkle Black” version at EICMA in November, opinions were sharply divided.
Katana devotees both loved and hated it as did those who weren’t Katana fans. Reminds me of the reception the original Katana experienced!
In the “flesh” this new Katana looks a lot better with high-quality fitment.
I prefer the silver as it looks more original and highlights the original’s lines and angles better.
There are a lot of faithful Katana lines such as the cut in the tank, the shark nose, two-toned seat, rectangular headlight and even the half-moon front fender.
But Katana devotees will find points to criticise.
To me, it seems the designers were trying too hard and made the design too complex.
But it certainly stands out and includes some neat modern features such as full LED lighting and a remote rear fender.
The biggest change is straight bars instead of clip-ons that make it much less ergonomically painful to ride than the original.
In fact, with its narrow seat and upright stance, it is extremely comfortable in the saddle, although the wide tank does splay your knees, so it could be painful for some people with hip problems.
At 825mm, the seat is much taller than the original, but I’m 183cm tall and I was able to plant both feet flat on the ground, still with a slight knee bend.
Motivation delight
The real delight of this bike is in the motivation: the engine and transmission.
Here is an interesting tech specs comparison to the original.
But tech specs do not tell the real story of this bike’s motivation.
It’s simply so silky smooth with thick, creamy torque and a super-slick foolproof gearbox.
This combination virtually makes it like an automatic; just slip through to sixth gear by 60km/h and twist the throttle.
No need to shift gears. It will pull from 2500 revs in sixth at 60km/h to 4500 revs at 100km/h and on to dizzying revs and go-straight-to-jail speeds.
On the media launch through the border ranges of NSW and Queensland, most of the riders stopped changing gears after a while and just used fifth or sixth for everything.
Yet it delivered electrifying throttle response and rapid acceleration when you started tap-dancing on the gear shift.
It’s so smooth there is little character to the feel of the engine, but there is a lovely aural harmony of induction “woof” and exhaust growl.
Back into the heaving traffic on the Gold Coast, this maniac machine was suddenly docile, tame and so controllable as we filtered slowly through the traffic.
Lewis describes it as both “a city bike and a show-off bike”.
It certainly is with only about 200km maximum range from the 12-litre tank.
The engine is Euro4 compliant and no doubt will be updated for Euro5 within the next couple of years. It burns lean and blows a fair bit of heart on to your right foot in heavy traffic.
There are no engine modes, but three-strange traction control that can also be switched off, all on the fly.
My only concern is the heavy cable clutch which is non-adjustable. Although, it does have a clever low-rev assist feature which adds 500 revs as you let the clutch lever out.
This prevents embarrassing and potentially dangerous stalls if you’ve filtered to the front of the traffic! It’s a delight to use in stop-start traffic.
There is also an easy-start function where you just hit the ignition and it starts on its own.
The comprehensive instrument screen is big, like a max-sized phone, but some of the letters and figures are small and difficult to read.
You can operate all functions via a handy controller on the left switchblock and they are easy to use.
Traction and instrument controls
Town and country
In town, the Katana is light and nimble and easy to slice through traffic with its tight turning circle and wide bars.
That also makes it great for twisting roads, although you don’t need to manhandle the bike to change direction.
It feels very light and the fully adjustable suspension (except for rear compression adjustment) is firm, but fair.
I backed off half a turn on the front compression to sort out some of the bumps on the backroads and it ploughed through without any headshake.
The big 310mm dual disc brakes have plenty of bite with good feel through the controls, although the ABS was a little jerky.
Lewis says the Dunlop RoadSport 2 tyres are specially made for the bike.
They feature a tread pattern that looks like it has been cut with slashes from a katana. The tyres heat up quickly and have excellent grip even on damp roads.
The combination of capable suspension and strong brakes make it a delight to whip through the bumpy and twisting roads of the Gold Coast hinterland.
Lewis says they have a long list of accessories including carbon bits, a black and red seat, protection, heated grips, smoked windscreen and red Brembo calipers.
He says buyers so far have spent an average of $1300 on the accessories.
There are also a Katana keyring, scale model and branded clothing.
Conclusion
I’m no Katana devotee and the looks don’t really appeal to me, yet I was won over by the ease of riding this bike hard as well as slow.
There may be more appealing neo/retro bikes on the market, but this is by far the rider’s delight of the pack!
Suzuki Katana GSX-S1000SM0 tech specs
PRICE
$18,990 RIDE AWAY
ENGINE
IN-LINE 4 CYLINDER, LIQUID-COOLED, DOHC
TRANSMISSION
6-SPEED WITH BACK-TORQUE LIMITING CLUTCH
FRONT SUSPENSION
43MM KYB FULLY ADJUSTABLE INVERTED FORKS
REAR SUSPENSION
LINK TYPE SHOCK WITH ADJUSTABLE REBOUND & SPRING PRELOAD
FRONT BRAKES
BREMBO RADIAL-MOUNT MONOBLOC CALIPERS, 310MM DICS WITH ABS
Miller addresses Lorenzo to Pramac Ducati speculation
Section: Competition
Queenslander yet to formalise his future as MotoGP silly season erupts.
Image: Supplied.
Australian Jack Miller has spoken out about the stunning rumour that he could be replaced at Pramac Racing by Jorge Lorenzo in a shock return to Ducati for 2020, which would see the Spaniard quit Repsol Honda halfway through a two-year deal.
Just days after scoring a second podium of the current MotoGP season at Brno, 24-year-old Miller’s seat on the factory-supported satellite squad has been linked to three-time premier class title-winner Lorenzo.
Thursday in Austria saw the speculation escalate and Miller admitted that he believes there is some truth to the rumours. After agreeing to terms with Pramac to ride a GP20 next year, he’s been awaiting a contract from Ducati to finalise the arrangement. It’s yet to surface.
“I think there is some truth to the rumours about Lorenzo,” commented Miller at the Red Bull Ring. “For sure, he’s looking at something because at the moment he’s got nothing. He can’t ride that Honda, so it’s easy to tuck your tail between your legs and run back…
“I think that Pramac loves me and want to keep me – most people in Ducati want to keep me – but I’ve got to make sense of why we’re in Austria, quite well into the second half of the season with two podiums under my belt, and I’ve still not signed a contract.
“Most of the details have been sorted, Pramac has agreed to everything they’ve been asked to agree to, but still no contract has arrived. We’ll wait and see – all I can do is keep doing my best. This is my first year on the latest material in MotoGP and this is the most competitive era it’s ever been in and I’ve scored two podiums and been in front of those guys on multiple occasions.
“I feel that I’ve been doing everything I can do in order get myself a job. I’m not stressed at all. “Nearly everyone in Ducati wants to keep me… some people have fond memories, but like I said, I’m not stressed. I’m just here to do my job.”
Miller is currently seventh in the MotoGP championship standings following the opening 10 rounds, the leading Independent rider in the championship with third-place finishes at both Circuit of the Americas and Brno.
If Lorenzo were to transfer to Pramac Ducati and cut his ties with Honda, Miller would be an obvious choice to replace him in a direct rider swap. However, first Honda would have to agree to allow Lorenzo out of his contract that runs through 2020 and Miller would have to agree to terms with the manufacturer that first took him into MotoGP back in 2016.
A tie to the factory Aruba.it Racing Ducati team in the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) has also been rumoured for Miller, although it isn’t something that he has considered. With Alvaro Bautista tipped to be going to Honda in WorldSBK, Ducati is searching for a replacement, which could be a path to the world championship for British points-leader Scott Redding.
Junior championships confirmed for AUS Supercross series
Section: Competition
Development pathway to feature Junior Lites and 85 categories in 2019.
Image: Supplied.
A pair of junior categories will contest the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship, providing a platform for the country’s capable young racers to ride alongside the SX1 and SX2 championships.
The Junior Lites (13-Under 16 years) and Junior 85 (12-Under 16 years) championships will feature at select rounds of the series, which will become a pathway to produce Australia’s future internationals.
“Off-road motorcycle racing is on the rise in Australia and we’re delighted to once again see a range of junior classes on-track supporting the Australian Supercross Championship,” Motorcycling Australia (MA) CEO Peter Doyle said.
“The classes offer a pathway for aspiring riders to dream big and advance to the highest level of the sport with the ability to compete on the country’s best tracks, while rubbing shoulders with and learning from the country’s best SX1 and SX2 riders.
“We see these junior categories as a fantastic stepping stone to help develop Australia’s next supercross world champion while providing a real-life training platform for becoming a world-class athlete.”
In an effort to maximise participation numbers while making entering the championship as cost-effective as possible, each junior class will consist of three rounds of the series. Junior Lites will be at Port Adelaide, Wollongong and Melbourne, while the 85s will race Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Wollongong.
Championship organisers have also touted aspirations to host practice days and coaching opportunities specific to supercross for all skill levels in 2019 to aid the development of junior riders to make for a safe transition from motocross to supercross.
“We’re extremely committed to providing a solid platform for the development of future supercross stars, which is a huge focus for us,” commented AUS SX Holdings’ Adam Bailey. “There’s no doubt we have the talent in this country – we just need to provide the opportunity for these kids to build their experience and show what they can do on the race track and to gain valuable experience.
“Supercross is the best opportunity for young riders to gain national and international exposure to help further their careers, both nationally and internationally. The 2019 Australian Supercross Championship will be the largest and most anticipated in close to a decade. We hope to see full grids of juniors lining up to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Last year’s Australian Supercross Championships were won by Jake Cuka in the Junior Lites and Brad West in the 85s.
After an interesting first weekend of racing for the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup in Germany(Link), it’s time to saddle up this weekend for Round 2 where the electric bikes join the MotoGP circus at Red Bull Ring.
Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) leads the way as the grid prepare to fight it out for another 25 points, with Austria presenting a very different challenge.
The Sachsenring is tight and twisty, which the Red Bull Ring most definitely isn’t. Testing at Valencia and Jerez had created some expectations ahead of the season opener, but practice in Germany certainly saw the order shuffle as the grid took on the unique track. So will that also be true as we switch it up again and head for Spielberg?
Niki Tuuli
“Like I always say, we’ve been in the top three in almost every session this year and we’ll try to continue like this and consistently be in the top three in every session, and also in qualifying we’ll try to do as we did last time. That’s our plan, so we try to continue like this. This first weekend was really good for us, we have good pace for the bike and with this bike, I don’t think the changes are such a big difference and I think we have good pace for every weekend, I feel really good on the bike and that’s the main thing. I think this track will be a bit more difficult for me, there are many hard braking points and that’s where I don’t feel I was really good at Sachsenring. I think other riders in the top group were better than me in the braking zones. But we’re not so far on the brakes, and it will be a different weekend with the track so different, but there are also fast corners, which is where I feel good. But we’ll see, we need to find a compromise between braking and the fast corners. We’ll see but I hope we’ll be in the top three in the first session.”
Niki Tuuli – 2019 MotoE Round 1, Germany
Tuuli and fellow podium finishers Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) and Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will be hoping not, as will Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing), who all had some serious speed in Germany.
Bradley Smith
“I’m ready for Round 2. I have analysed what happened at Sachsenring as much as I can, looking at Free Practice, qualifying and the race. I think we gave everything we had in Germany, so we are satisfied with the second place we achieved. Looking ahead to Austria, the E-Pole session is the main aspect where we have to improve, but the introduction of an FP3 session will help us get better prepared for qualifying. The Red Bull Ring is a track with very long straights, so we will have to study what our strengths might be with the MotoE bike. The goal for this weekend is to continue from where we left off. We must prevent our rivals from breaking away in the standings, since there are not too many races in the MotoE World Cup. We will try to emerge from Round 2 as the series leaders.”
2019 MotoE Round 1, Germany
Mike Di Meglio
“Here will be a hard race because there a lot of hard braking, and I think for the first lap and during the race there will be a lot of fighting. In Sachsenring I felt good in the hard braking, but a little slower than Niki in the fast corners. So we have to see because each track is different, and we have to see how the grip will be at this track. But we need to be in the front and push practice by practice. I don’t think it’s a very complicated track, many riders come here to train to understand the track but after a few laps they understand where to go, it’s stop and go. It’s not like Sachsenring where you have to focus on where to put the wheel. But we have to focus practice by practice and see if some new rider arrives at the top.”
The likes of Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) need more from Round 2 after a tougher start, with a six-race calendar making every point crucial in the fight for the crown.
Eric Granado
“I am quite motivated, among other things because I don’t know the Austrian circuit and I really want to start working with the team on Friday and get the bike ready for Sunday’s race. This weekend we will have one more training, what which is very important for me as I’ve never race in this track. Despite not getting the result we expected, in Germany we had a great rhythm and I am happy with the level we proved. Here I’ll try to be competitive again in the Superpole and mainly in the Race.”
Bradley Smith
Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) will be looking to bridge the gap to the front quartet and hoping the Red Bull Ring is the place to do it, too, with the Italian having completed the top five last time out.
Matteo Ferrari
“I’m really charged up, because at Sachsenring we were competitive, so we want to aim higher. This is a new tack for the bike, we have no data, so the methodical work we’ll put in place will be even more crucial than before. I never race at the Red Bull Ring with other categories, so it will be important to understand the key parts of the track. There are some very important braking zones at this track and with MotoE the braking part is crucial. Despite the unusual time, the 8:30am FP3 session on Saturday is surely a positive factor.”
Hector Garzo – 2019 MotoE Round 1, Germany
And Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) and Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing), who were only tenths apart, will be eager to take that duel a few places forward.
Xavier Simeon
“I am very motivated and looking forward to this second race. The Red Bull Ring is totally opposite to the Sachsering circuit where we raced the first race because it has many straights. How the MotoE bikes will behave here is a big question mark. In Sachsenring I could show that I am competitive with these bikes and I hope to be that fast also this weekend where the goal will be to get on the podium.”
Hector Garzo – 2019 MotoE Round 1, Germany
Sete Gibernau (Join Contract Pons 40), meanwhile, made a huge step forward once the lights went out and came out on top in an incredibly close fight throughout the points. He led Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team), Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse), Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team), Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Kenny Foray (Tech 3 E-Racing) over the line when the race was stopped, with only a second separating a solid top ten from only a couple of points for those in the squabble. That’s sure to reignite at Spielberg.
Josh Hook was the final points scorer in the opening MotoE race and will be looking to march further up the order this weekend.
Josh Hook – 2019 MotoE Round 1, Germany
Two practice sessions on Friday are joined by a new FP3 on Saturday morning in Austria, with all three deciding the order the riders then head out for E-Pole at 16:00 (GMT +2). Will Tuuli rule the Ring? The six-lap race begins at 10:00 on Sunday.
Kawasaki’s Tomac and Cianciarulo unavailable for MXoN at Assen
Section: Competition
Factory pairing won’t be forming part of Team USA in September.
Image: Supplied.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s current leaders of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo, won’t be available for the 2019 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN).
Kawasaki has announced that neither rider will be available for the Assen event in the Netherlands on 28-29 September, instead opting to focus on preparations for next season when they’re paired together riding the KX450.
After contact was made by the AMA, it was established that the factory Kawasaki team or its riders wouldn’t be considered for Team USA, but the manufacturer will assess any future invitations received. According to Kawasaki, both riders were in agreement with the decision.
“Being chosen to represent the USA is always an honour,” Tomac commented. “I am a patriotic guy, so attending Motocross of Nations is something I always look forward to and embrace the challenge of the unique race.
“However, after speaking with the team I understand and support their reasoning for not attending this year’s event. Winning MXoN is something that is still on my checklist, but my priority right now is winning a Monster Energy Supercross title.”
Cianciarulo added: “It would be an incredible and humbling honour to be chosen to represent Team USA. For me, it has always been something I have watched and wanted to be chosen for, but I understand the team’s decision and I know I have a lot of work and new challenges ahead of me by moving up to the 450 class.”
Tomac has represented Team USA on multiple occasions including 2013, 2014 and also last year at RedBud, while Cianciarulo is yet to form part of the American team at the high-profile international event.
Testing crash rules Mir out of Spielberg MotoGP round
Section: Competition
Post-race incident in Czech Republic sidelines factory Suzuki rookie.
Image: Supplied.
Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir has been ruled out of the Austrian grand prix following a post-race crash while testing at Brno.
The Spaniard escaped serious injury in the fall, however, a pulmonary contusion required him to be transported by helicopter to hospital for further observations.
Given his current condition, Team Suzuki Ecstar together with Mir decided not to take any risks, preferring to allow time for rest and recovery instead of trying to take part at Red Bull Ring.
“It’s such a shame to miss this race following the incident in the Brno test,” Mir said. “It was a big crash and I was transferred to the hospital for further checks because I rolled through the gravel many times and took a lot of hits. At the beginning, I struggled to breathe because of the pulmonary contusion, but step by step I improved and now I’m feeling better.
“The next thing is to go to the Hospital Dexeus where I will undergo some more medical checks so I can be assured that everything is alright, then I will head home to recover and restart my training. It’s a big pity because I was feeling really good with the bike and we were completing a fantastic test.
“Now I have to think day by day, try to recover and aim to be 100 percent for Silverstone. I want to keep up my momentum with the bike and continue growing in the top class. I must thank all the people who looked after me, from the Clinica Mobile, to the circuit medical staff, Brno hospital and all the team members. Thanks also to all the fans who have sent lots of supportive messages.”
Despite the fact that he didn’t suffer major injuries, his lungs are still inflamed and they will require proper rest to recover. On his return to Spain he will head to Barcelona where he will undergo further checks before returning home to Andorra to take the necessary time to rest and heal, attempting to be fully fit for Silverstone.
Australian millennials are taking longer to get their driving/riding licences and are using public transport more, according to a multi-national university study.
The study looked at Melbourne, Brisbane, London, New York and Atlanta and found Brisbane millennials had the biggest increase in public transport kilometres (66%) followed by Melbourne with 45%.
London had a 22% increase and Atlanta 16% while New York had a slight decrease in public transport kilometres as millennials choose to live closer to work.
(Image from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers)
Public transport trend
While the trend toward public transport was applauded by the Monash University — the only Aussie uni among the five US and UK universities involved — the trend is alarming for motorcycle retailers.
They are struggling with a significant slide in sales over the past three years that will not abate if millennials don’t get licences.
Suggestions solutions
Many suggested solutions to the millennial problem have been floated by retailers, distributors and manufacturers, but few are based in solid research.
So the American Motorcycle Industry Council has engaged researchers to find out exactly why millennials don’t ride and strategists to work out how to get them on to motorcycles.
MIC board chair Paul Vitrano, of Indian Motorcycle and Polaris, says the industry “needs to reach and inspire new customers”.
“While many of us, with our individual businesses, have taken steps to grow ridership, we also should be working together, and the MIC wants to help make that happen,” he says.
“To help us fully understand the barriers to entry, and to create an inclusive strategic plan to conquer those barriers that will be available to all stakeholders, we have partnered with a team of researchers and strategists to bring fresh perspectives to this challenge and opportunity.”
MIC has hired consulting firm Centauric LLC to do the research and come up with a strategic plan next month.
MIC vice chair Chuck Boderman, of Honda, says he does not expect a “quick fix”.
“It’s about showing people how motorcycles can fit into and enrich their lives, no matter where they live, what they do, what their hobbies are, or how old or young they are.
“This will take time, so we are committed to building a campaign that takes the long view.”
Thursday afternoon saw the start of race action at the 2019 fonaCAB Ulster Grand Prix with a feast of high speed action that saw Dundrod reclaim it’s title as the world’s fastest road race.
Peter Hickman
Peter Hickman set a new outright lap record of 136.415mph on his way to victory in the Superbike race aboard the Smith’s S1000RR BMW. The new record is 2.6 seconds faster than the old mark and almost 1 mph quicker than his TT record of 135.452mph,
Peter Hickman
“I was struggling to pass Dean in the early stages as he was really fast in a straight line and we’re down a bit on top speed. I got a really good run out of the last corner and used the slipstream perfectly along the Flying Kilo so I knew if I could get to Deer’s Leap in front, I’d have a good chance of getting away. Once I got the clear track, I could ride my own lines, rather than Dean’s, and I hit all my markers so was able to pull away.” We don’t have the fastest bike out there but we do have a very good package so it’s great to get the win and get the outright lap record back for myself, the team and BMW.”
Peter Hickman
Conor Cummins posted the highest speed ever recorded at Dundrod when he broke the beam on the speed trap on the Flying Kilo at 202.8mph on the Milenco Padgett’s Honda Fireblade. Cummins finished third in the race with Dean Harrison taking the runner-up slot on the Silicone Kawasaki.
Conor Cummins
South Australian David Johnson crossed the line in sixth place ahead of Derek Sheils and Jamie Coward.
David Johnson
The race was red flagged on the final lap when Sam West crashed without injury at Quarry Bends and his BMW burst into flames.
Dean Harrison
Tyco BMW’s Michael Dunlop had earlier withdrawn from the Thursday evening Superbike race but the 30-year-old intends to race in Saturday’s Superbike and Superstock events.
Michael Dunlop
SBK Race Results
Pos
Rider
Time
Ave Speed
1
Peter Hickman
13m16.104
133.307 mph
2
Dean Harrison
13m21.785
132.363mph
3
Conor Cummins
13m24.942
131.844mph
4
Lee Johnston
13m28.129
131.324mph
5
Davey Todd
13m38.385
129.678mph
6
David Johnson
13m40.132
129.402mph
7
Derek Sheils
13m43.876
128.814mph
8
Jamie Coward
13m44.725
128.681mph
9
Michael Sweeney
13m45.146
128.615mph
10
Brian Mccormack
13m47.050
128.319mph
11
Phillip Crowe
13m50.818
127.737mph
12
David Jackson
13m58.059
126.634mph
13
Mike Booth
10m33.207
125.524mph
14
Ryan Kneen
10m33.370
125.492mph
15
Xavier Denis
10m33.682
125.430mph
16
Shaun Anderson
10m33.831
125.400mph
17
Mark Parrett
10m45.386
123.155mph
18
Forest Dunn
10m5.639
123.107mph
19
Darren Cooper
10m52.119
121.884mph
20
James Chawke
10m52.926
121.733mph
21
Tom Weeden
10m53.670
121.594mph
22
Josh Daley
10m54.415
121.456mph
23
Laurent Hoffmann
10m15.572
121.242mph
24
Davy Morgan
10m57.772
120.836mph
25
Richard Charlton
10m59.423
120.534mph
26
Barry Furber
10m59.637
120.494mph
27
Gareth Keys
11m00.187
120.394mph
28
George Spence
11m07.973
118.991mph
29
Kamil Holan
11m08.087
118.970mph
30
Stephen Mcknight
11m10.976
118.458mph
31
Raul Torras
11m11.067
118.442mph
32
Marty Lennon
11m13.137
118.078mph
33
Paul Gartland
11m16.986
117.407mph
34
Donald Macfadyen
11m17.265
117.358mph
35
Paul Cranston
11m18.633
117.122mph
36
Patricia Fernandez
11m20.807
116.748mph
Superstock
Peter Hickman topped the opening Superstock qualifying session at 130.871mph, 1.883 mph seconds ahead of Dean Harrison (Silcone Kawasaki). Lee Johnston was third quickest on the Ashcourt Racing BMW.
Dean Harrison
Jamie Coward continued to impress on the Prez Yamaha, posting 4th fastest time with Davey Todd (Wepol/Penz13.com BMW) 5th.
Paul Jordan’s second lap 126.572mph was quick enough to give him 6th place on the grid for Saturday’s race before the Magherafelt rider slid off his RC Express/Dafabet Devitt’s Kawasaki at Leathemstown. He was uninjured in the crash.
Michael Sweeney (MJR BMW), David Johnson (Honda Racing), Derek Sheils (RK Racing/Burrows Suzuki) and Shaun Anderson (NW Racing BMW) completed the top ten.
Lee Johnston
Conor Cummins could only manage a lap of 125.090mph on the Milenco Padgett’s Honda for 14th place. Michael Dunlop was even further down the order in 29th place on the MD Racing BMW after completing just two laps.
Superstock Qualifying Results
Pos
Rider
Lap
Ave Speed
1
Peter Hickman
3m23.589
130.871mph
2
Dean Harrison
3m25.472
129.672mph
3
Lee Johnston
3m26.436
129.066mph
4
Jamie Coward
3m29.325
127.285mph
5
Davey Todd
3m29.710
127.051mph
6
Paul Jordan
3m30.505
126.572mph
7
Michael Sweeney
3m31.089
126.221mph
8
David Johnson
3m31.177
126.169mph
9
Derek Sheils
3m31.318
126.085mph
10
Shaun Anderson
3m31.459
126.001mph
11
Brian Mccormack
3m31.927
125.722mph
12
Phillip Crowe
3m32.143
125.594mph
13
Ryan Kneen
3m32.420
125.431mph
14
Conor Cummins
3m32.999
125.090mph
15
Josh Daley
3m33.211
124.965mph
16
Dominic Herbertson
3m33.427
124.839mph
17
Mike Booth
3m33.447
124.827mph
18
David Jackson
3m33.642
124.713mph
19
David Mcconnaghy
3m36.339
123.158mph
20
Mark Parrett
3m37.473
122.516mph
21
Sam West
3m7.546
122.475mph
22
Xavier Denis
3m38.034
122.201mph
23
Darren Cooper
3m38.617
121.875mph
24
Davy Morgan
3m38.707
121.825mph
25
Forest Dunn
3m38.782
121.783mph
26
Laurent Hoffmann
3m39.033
121.644mph
27
Kris Duncan
3m39.220
121.540mph
28
Neil Kernohan
3m39.529
121.369mph
29
Michael Dunlop
3m39.810
121.214mph
30
Tom Weeden
3m39.853
121.190mph
31
Kamil Holan
3m40.946
120.590mph
32
Alan Connor
3m41.307
120.394mph
33
James Chawke
3m41.672
120.195mph
34
Barry Furber
3m42.333
119.838mph
35
Richard Charlton
3m43.764
119.072mph
36
Stephen Mcknight
3m45.757
118.021mph
37
Patricia Fernandez
3m46.172
117.804mph
38
Donald Macfadyen
3m46.554
117.605mph
39
George Spence
3m47.274
117.233mph
40
Marty Lennon
3m49.171
116.262mph
41
Paul Gartland
3m50.227
115.729mph
42
Andy Sellars
3m54.957
113.399mph
43
Paul Cranston
3m59.141
111.415mph
Supersport Race
Peter Hickman was victorious in the Supersport race later in the evening on his Trooper Beer Triumph, winning the bout after a huge tussle with Lee Johnston on the Ashcourt Racing Yamaha.
David Johnson finished eighth ahead of Xavier Denis and Dominic Herbertson.
David Johnson
Supersport Race Results
Pos
Rider
Time
Ave Speed
1
Peter Hickman
17m28.621
126.614mph
2
Lee Johnston
17m28.978
126.571mph
3
Dean Harrison
17m37.353
125.569mph
4
Jamie Coward
17m49.575
124.134mph
5
Conor Cummins
17m49.663
124.124mph
6
Paul Jordan
17m50.429
124.035mph
7
Michael Sweeney
17m50.491
124.028mph
8
David Johnson
18m17.675
120.956mph
9
Xavier Denis
18m18.242
120.894mph
10
Dominic Herbertson
18m18.480
120.867mph
11
David Jackson
18m19.609
120.743mph
12
Raymond Casey
18m28.762
119.747mph
13
Tom Weeden
18m28.974
119.724mph
14
Forest Dunn
18m35.680
119.004mph
15
Joseph Loughlin
18m35.783
118.993mph
16
Laurent Hoffmann
18m36.094
118.960mph
17
Josh Daley
18m37.937
118.764mph
18
Mike Booth
18m38.324
118.723mph
19
James Chawke
18m48.665
117.635mph
20
Mike Norbury
18m48.760
117.625mph
21
Davy Morgan
18m49.373
117.561mph
22
Mark Parrett
18m49.645
117.533mph
23
Richard Charlton
18m50.034
117.493mph
24
David Mcconnaghy
18m50.127
117.483mph
25
Kris Duncan
19m03.513
116.108mph
26
Patricia Fernandez
19m07.987
115.655mph
27
Kamil Holan
19m13.103
115.142mph
28
Ryan Gibson
19m24.411
114.024mph
29
Don Gilbert
19m24.837
113.982mph
30
Paul Cassidy
19m31.964
113.289mph
31
Lloyd Collins
19m32.552
113.232mph
SuperTwins
Paul Jordan took his first international race win in the Supertwins race on the RC Express, Dafabet Devitts Kawasaki, finishing just 0.092 seconds ahead of Joe Loughlin on a Team ILR/ Coverdale Paton. Jamie Coward was third on the KTS Racing Kawasaki.
Super Twin Race Results
Pos
Rider
Time
Ave Speed
1
Paul Jordan
15m01.130
117.771mph
2
Joseph Loughlin
15m01.222
117.759mph
3
Jamie Coward
15m01.385
117.737mph
4
Christian Elkin
15m03.969
117.401mph
5
Ian Lougher
15m30.667
114.033mph
6
Xavier Denis
15m30.733
114.025mph
7
Jonathan Perry
15m30.815
114.015mph
8
James Chawke
15m31.106
113.979mph
9
Neil Kernohan
15m50.676
111.633mph
10
Maria Costello
15m59.310
110.628mph
11
Stephen Mcknight
16m05.201
109.953mph
12
Ryan Gibson
16m05.945
109.868mph
13
Marty Lennon
16m06.279
109.830mph
14
Veronika Hankocyova
16m15.824
108.756mph
15
James Tadman
16m18.514
108.457mph
16
Kamil Holan
16m34.653
106.697mph
17
Eoin O’siochru
16m37.329
106.411mph
18
Sandy Berwick
16m58.730
104.175mph
19
Paul Gartland
17m06.033
103.434mph
20
John Byrne
17m16.404
102.399mph
21
Naoki Matsumoto
18m03.663
97.933mph
22
15 Nigel Mcauley
18m25.761
95.976mph
Lightweight
The Lightweight race was won by Neil Kernohan on the Logan Yamaha just 0.06 seconds ahead of Davy Morgan (Honda) with Paul Williams (Yamaha) in third.
Lightweight Race Results
Pos
Rider
Time
Ave Speed
1
Neil Kernohan
11m52.178
111.605mph
2
Davy Morgan
11m52.240
111.595mph
3
Paul Williams
12m15.750
108.029mph
4
Shaun Anderson
12m15.791
108.023mph
5
Kris Duncan
12m16.779
107.878mph
6
Peter Fletcher
12m54.208
102.663mph
7
Stephen Mckeown
12m59.815
101.925mph
8
Bryan Harding
13m12.203
100.331mph
9
Gillian Mcgaw
13m32.739
97.796mph
10
Yvonne Montgomery
13m42.397
96.647mph
11
Johnny Mccay
13m42.720
96.610mph
12
Paul Daley
13m43.112
96.564mph
13
Stephen Carr
14m13.858
93.086mph
Not Classified
DNF
Gareth Keys
12m15.350
108.088mph
DNF
Dave Walsh
13m38.053
97.161mph
DNF
Darren Duncan
9m21.991
94.020mph
DNF
Darryl Tweed
4m31.556
96.461mph
Ultra Lightweight
Czech racer Michal Dokoupil repeated his 2018 victory in the Ultra Lightweight race aboard his Ariane machine with Christian Elkin 1.5 seconds back on the Wylie Honda. Melissa Kennedy was the only female rostrum finisher of the day aboard her KNR Honda in third.
