Summary

  • Alastair Seeley fastest in three of the four classes

  • Hampshire's James Hillier top in Supertwins

  • Wet and windy conditions for first practice

  1. Postpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    That is it for today, thanks for following the action.

    We're back for final practice on Thursday morning followed by the three races that evening - the Supersport, Supertwin and Superstock.

    There is a five-race programme on Saturday.

  2. Get Involvedpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Alastair Seeley certainly seems to have impressed some of you today.....

    Stephen Henderson: What did @weewizard34 [Alastair Seeley] have for lunch? Jumps into P1 with a blistering lap - 4.5 seconds faster than @deanharrisonTT.

    Andy McLaughlin: Good to see the weather is picking up. Don't see past @weewizard34 for this year's podium.

  3. Superstock top sixpublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    1 Alastair Seeley (BMW) 118.306 mph

    2 Michael Dunlop (Yamaha) 116.48

    3 Dean Harrison (Yamaha) 115.88

    4 Horst Saiger (Kawasaki) 114.91

    5 William Dunlop (BMW) 114.29

    6 Michael Rutter (BMW) 114.13

  4. Supertwins timespublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    How they fared in the Supertwins

    1 James Hillier (Kawasaki) 99.04 mph

    2 Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) 99.02

    3 Jamie Hamilton (Kawasaki) 98.71

    4 Michael Dunlop (Yamaha) 97.54

    5 James Cowton (Kawasaki) 97.22

    6 Derek McGee (Kawasaki) 97.16

  5. Postpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Tyco BMW rider Alastair Seeley is fastest in the closing Superstock session with an average lap speed of 118.306mph and must fancy his chances of adding to his 12 North West 200 wins later in the week.

  6. Super Seeleypublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Steve Parrish
    At the North West 200

    "He might have a target on his back - but they are not going to see him because he is so far ahead."

    Alastair Seeley is fastest in three of today's four qualifying sessions.

  7. Get Involvedpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Here are more of your thoughts during first practice....

    Jennifer Casey: Watching North West 200. Fond memories from childhood. Remembering Mark Young this week. 6 years on.

    Giles Olley: Excited watching fellow BEMSEE racer Jamie Loveday doing his first ever lap of #Northwest200

    Gary Millen: Heading home to Portrush tomorrow for the NW200, will bring some better weather with me!

  8. Maria's happy returnpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Northampton's Maria Costello MBE is back on the grid at the North West 200 for another year.

    "You have to come to the North West 200. The welcome I get here is amazing and the fans are great. I've just got to be here."

    Maria Costello was made an MBE in 2009Image source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Maria Costello was made an MBE in 2009

  9. It's sunnypublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    The rain has passed and the circuit is drying out quickly, so the final practice - the Superstock - should be the fastest of the day.

  10. Father's tributepublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Stuart Andrews makes an emotional return to the North West 200 races where his son Simon lost his life last year.

    Worcestershire rider Andrews, 29, died two days after crashing during the Superstock race in May 2014.

    "Simon loved Northern Ireland and loved racing here. He had a short life but a most enjoyable one," said the rider's father in an interview you can see here.

  11. Superbike standingspublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Alastair Seeley looks like being the man to beat at the North WestImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Alastair Seeley looks like being the man to beat at the North West

    The 'Wee Wizard' Alastair Seeley is also top of the charts in the Superbikes practice session - so our opinion poll was a bit off the mark!

    1. Alastair Seeley 109.97 mph

    2. Gary Johnson 108.59

    3. Lee Johnston 107.89

    4. Dean Harrison 107.23

    5. Ian Hutchinson 107.04

    6. John McGuinness 106.91

    The vote winner Guy Martin had the 10th best time.

  12. It's rainingpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    The riders have full wet tyres on as it is pouring here with the Superbikes session getting under way. The forecasters predict better conditions for Thursday's practice and racing and also for the main race programme on Saturday. Let's hope they are right.

  13. Get Involvedpublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Mark Wilkinson contacts us on @BBC_NI_BIKES

    "Hi guys, great coverage as always. Have you got a new hut this year without leaks?"

  14. Supersport timespublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Alastair Seeley has posted the best time in the first Supersport qualifying session with an average lap speed of 104.04mph. Michael Dunlop is next best on 103.40 and his brother William on 102.88.

  15. Get Involvedpublished at 11:27 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Lincolnshire's Guy Martin has topped the poll for the rider you think will be fastest in Superbike qualifying today. He got 30% of the votes, with Michael Dunlop next best on 27% and Alastair Seeley third on 15%.

  16. Postpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    The voting on our poll has closed and we will shortly reveal who you think will post today's top Superbike time.

  17. Postpublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    French rider Franck Petricola is back at the North West 200 despite suffering life-threatening injuries during a practice crash here last year.

    Petricola, 32, suffered multiple fractures and a head injury and was in a coma for several days.

    "I was thinking about my accident before my first lap but not any more.

    "I am very lucky. It is my birthday so it is a great day."

  18. Postpublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    Seasoned campaigner John McGuinness is shaking his head as the bad weather closes in.

    "It is just a shame. I'm gutted for everybody because there is always so much enthusiasm in the build-up to the week. It is blowing a gale and we have to get the wets on," the 43-year-old from Morecambe tells Radio Ulster.

  19. It's rainingpublished at 10:57 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    A blustery shower is making life tricky for the Supersport riders as they go out for their practice session.

    "They could well come in for a change to wet tyres," says commentator Steve Parrish.

  20. Opinion pollpublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 12 May 2015

    You've 30 minutes left to tell us who you think will top the list of today's Superbike qualifying times, using the voting buttons on the right.