The next session scheduled is for the Supertwins.

It's raining again at the start-finish area though so track conditions will be a bit more tricky for the lighter capacity machines.

The bikes and their 'pilots' are assembling on the grid but have yet to receive the go-ahead to go out on track by race officials.

We'll keep you updated.....

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The signs are looking promising for the many fans of local favourite Michael Dunlop!

The Hawk Racing rider tops the leaderboard after the Superbike session, around two seconds faster than second-placed man Alastair Seeley.

1. Michael Dunlop (Honda) 119.898mph

2. Alastair Seeley (BMW) 117.550

3. Lee Johnston (Honda) 116.058

4. Peter Hickman (BMW) 115.943

5. John McGuinness (Honda) 115.756

6. Dean Harrison (Kawasaki) 115.513

7. Davey Todd (Honda) 115.051

8. Glenn Irwin (Ducati) 113.473

9. Conor Cummins (Honda) 112.923

10. Mike Browne (BMW) 112.228

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the North West 200

I don't want to be *that* guy, but it's started raining right at the end of Superbike practice.

The clouds had been rolling in for a while now and, sadly, the heavens have now opened.

It's not lashing like the thunderstorms yesterday, but it'll certainly make the circuit greasy.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

The riders have a couple of circuits under their belts and it's Michael Dunlop who has set the fastest lap to date.

The Ballymoney rider clocked 119.898mph on the Hawk Racing Honda, followed by Alastair Seeley, who is almost four seconds slower with 117.550 on the Milwaukee BMW by TAS Racing.

Peter Hickman currently sits third with 116.058, then Glenn Irwin at 115.943.

The Superbike session has been reduced to 30 minutes as the organisers attempt to claw back some of the time lost by earlier delays.

And they're off......the big bikes are on the circuit for the first time this year.

You can feel the pulse quickening, the heart racing just a little bit faster, as the machines roar off the grid down towards York Corner..

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the North West 200

It's all smiles for Glenn Irwin as he gets ready for Superbike practice.

He's a man in form after a blistering start to the British Superbike Championship and is one of the favourites to retain his North West 200 crown.

The roar of the mighty Superbikes is reverberating around the paddock area here at the North West.

The sights, the sounds and the smells...they are all part of what makes up the complete North West 200 experience.

This will be the only class that six-time winner Glenn Irwin will take part in this year. The PBM Ducati is his weapon of choice this time out...

The Supersports are back in the pits after their session so let's take a look at how the leaderboard ended up....

Remember there will be another practice for these machines on Thursday before the grid positions are decided for the six-lap races on Thursday evening and Saturday.

1 Alastair Seeley (Ducati) 114.406mph

2. Richard Cooper (Yamaha) 114.195

3. Dean Harrison (Yamaha) 112.814

4. Michael Dunlop (Yamaha) 111.958

5. Peter Hickman (Triumph) 111.792

6. Lee Johnston (Yamaha) 111.631

Michael Dunlop followed his tradition of recent years by heading off at the back of the field in the Supersport session to get some clear track.

The most recent of the 34-year-old's five North West 200 wins came in the Superbike class in 2016.

A familiar name now at the top of the timesheets...no surprise that record North West 200 wins holder Alastair Seeley has gone fastest as we pass the half hour mark of the session...

The Carrickfergus rider has put in a lap of 114.406mph on his V2 Ducati which he has acquired as a one-off ride for this event.

Richard Cooper sits second, followed now by Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop, Lee Johnston, Peter Hickman and Davey Todd.

No, not the iconic 1980s band.... we're talking about the conditions for last year's opening Supersport race, which were less than perfect.

The wet weather didn't deter veteran former world grand prix competitor Jeremy McWilliams, who mastered the conditions to claim third spot on his Burrows Engineering/RK Yamaha.

The Glengormley rider rides a Wilson Craig 600cc Honda in this year's Supersport outings, as well as a Paton Supertwin where he will aim to add to his three previous victories.

This from a racer now just one year short of his 60th birthday!

How is this for a high quality top six leaderboard after 20 minutes of Supersport qualifying...

1 Richard Cooper 114.406mph

2. Dean Harrison 114.195

3. Alastair Seeley 112.814

4. Davey Todd 111.958

5. Lee Johnston 11.792

6. Paul Jordan 111.631

The riders have completed their first couple of laps and it is Bradford rider Dean Harrison who has recorded the fastest lap so far.

Harrison is chasing a first North West 200 win, to add to those he has already achieved at the Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix, Southern 100 and Scarborough.

The BPE/Russell Racing rider has travelled the 8.9 miles at an average speed of 114.195mph.

The fastest ever qualifying lap for this class was set by Alastair Seeley at 117.160mph way back in 2014.

The race lap record stands to Davey Todd at 118.036, set in 2022.

After a lengthy delay, the Supersports are now out on the circuit for their practice session.

Pleased to report that the sun is still shining brightly, making conditions just about perfect.

Alastair Seeley mixed his racing career with a number of other jobs in recent years.

Watch our BBC feature on how he enjoyed life as a postman.

Thirteen of Seeley's 27 NW wins have come in the Supersport class.

BBC Sport NI is your one-stop-shop for unrivalled coverage of this year's international road race.

We have live coverage of every practice session and every race.

Catch the details below.

Image source, BBC Sport

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the North West 200

The man everyone wants to beat.

Alastair Seeley, who has plied his trade as a postman on occasions in recent years while continuing with his racing activities, is looking nice and relaxed as he eyes up 30 North West 200 victories this week.

A repeat of last year's hat-trick would see him reach that particular milestone.

Yorkshire rider Joey Thompson is making his county loyalties plain as he gets ready to set out on his Yamaha Supersport.

Image source, BBC Sport

French rider Pierre-Yves Bian was a winner last year in the first Supertwins race.

This time the former Manx Grand Prix winner will also campaign a Triumph prepared by Peter Hickman's PHR Performance team in the Supersports.

Larry Carter caught up with Yves-Bian before he heads out onto the circuit for the first time in this year's practice....