NW200: Rain-hit qualifying gets 2026 event underway

Cooper and McWilliams shine in tricky conditions

Early benchmarks have been set at this year's North West 200 with this year's event getting underway with a stop-start opening qualifying session today (6 May).

All classes got the chance to set their first timings of the meeting despite some minor disruptions caused by rain spells around the 'Triangle Course' this morning and this afternoon.

During the opening Superbike session it was Richard Cooper who set the standard in tricky conditions with a best pace of four minutes, 51.332 seconds.

That saw Cooper sit more than two seconds clear of the next best time set by Paul Jordan at four minutes, 53.940 seconds whilst rounding out the top three was Dean Harrison on four minutes, 54.566 seconds.

Supersport machines were out next and it was Cooper again who shone by setting the top time with a four minutes, 50.877 seconds.

Slotting in just over two-and-a-half seconds back in second was veteran rider, Jeremy McWilliams who impressed with a best time of four minutes, 53.419.

Meanwhile, Dean Harrison once again rounded out the top three on the Honda Racing UK CBR600RR, just over two seconds off the pace of McWilliams with a four minutes, 55.676.

As track conditions continued to alter with the changeable weather throughout the day, Island resident, Harrison then went one better in the following Superstock session to go second-quickest at four minutes, 56.764 seconds, bested only by DAO Racing's Josh Brookes who went top of the pile with a time of four minutes, 55.143 seconds.

Rounding out the Superstock top three for the session was a positive runout for debutant, Storm Stacey who clocked a best pace of four minutes, 59.361 seconds.

Completing the opening day's action was the Supertwin/Sportbike session with McWilliams shining again to set the standard at the top of the board with a time of five minutes, 7.065 seconds.

That was just under eight seconds quicker than Paul Jordan who went on to slot in at second fastest (five minutes, 14.767 seconds) whilst Alastair Seeley also secured a position in the top trio of times (five minutes, 18.141 seconds).

Tomorrow (7 May), qualifying is set to continue between 9am and 3pm before the first races of the meeting are due to take place on Thursday evening between 4.45pm and 9pm.

All timings remain subject to change depending on prevailing conditions and circumstances.