It's been confirmed that's the end of Superbike qualifying after the two red flags for oil spills.

The Supersport bikes will be next out on circuit.

While Peter Hickman had a strong session, his team-mate Davey Todd had a tricky start to his North West 200:

"I just had a couple of issues when I first went out. I had an issue with the rear brake, believe it or not the pads fell out.

"A stone has hit the clip that releases them, a real freak thing. I lost my rear brake and some other little issues with the front brakes.

"The gearing was out a little bit but with the new bikes it is complete guess work at the minute and we're figuring things out as quickly as possible."

8Ten Racing's Peter Hickman's speaking on BBC iPlayer: "It's no secret that everything has come really late, but starting the team from scratch in February was never going to be an easy task.

"The team have done a fantastic job. All the boys and girls have been working really, really hard to make sure we made it to these races and here we are and everything is feeling pretty good.

"We want to turn up and we want to come here and win and that is what we are aiming to do, that is the whole point of racing. We don't turn up here because we want to finish second or worse."

11-time NW200 Superbike winner Glenn Irwin speaking on BBC iPlayer:

"The course is in an incredible condition and the lads are going to have a great time out there.

"At the time it was quite an overwhelming feeling to step back from competing here. It's no secret that I am a father to three young kids and we have achieved so, so much success here, more than I could ever have dreamed on and made memories that will last beyond a lifetime.

"Part of this job can be tough, but I want to be Northern Ireland's first British Superbike Champion and all our eggs are well and truly in that basket."

Eleven-time winner Glenn Irwin isn't competing at this year's North West 200, but he's on the north coast and caught up with Stephen Watson.

1. Peter Hickman 4:35.271 (121.732 mph)

2. Dean Harrison 4:26.030 (121.385 mph)

3. Alastair Seeley 4:26.869 (121.003 mph)

4. Paul Jordan 4:27.645 (120.652 mph)

5. Erno Kostamo 4:30.696 (119.292 mph)

6. Jamie Coward 4:31.092 (119.118 mph)

7. Michael Dunlop 4:31.217 (119.063 mph)

8. Michael Sweeney 4:31.847 (118.776 mph)

9. John McGuinness 4:33.260 (118.173 mph)

10. Nathan Harrison 4:33.409 (118.109 mph)

Davey Todd didn't set a competitive lap time in the opening session after a couple of issues on his BMW.

Larry Carter in the pitlane reports that the red flag is due to another oil spill on the circuit.

Six-time North West 200 winner and 23-time TT winner John McGuinness explains that he is still enjoying his road racing and feels he can be competitive at 53 years of age.

Michael Dunlop has been out for his first lap in anger and slots into sixth place with a time of 4:31.217.

That's about five and a half seconds off Hickman's fastest time so far.

He's straight back into the pits to make some adjustments.

Peter Hickman jumps to the top of the times on the first flying laps after the restart.

Harrison is still there in second, 0.759 seconds off the pace, while Paul Jordan, Alastair Seeley and Erno Kostamo round out the top five in the early stages.

Steve Parrish
BBC Sport NI commentator

Dean Harrison, I don't know what he has had for his breakfast this morning but he looks aggressive every time we get him in shot.

He was fast right out of the traps this morning. He looks really quick.

Lee Johnston
Five-time winner on BBC iPlayer

I feel really good in myself.

The last weekend back in the British Championship is the first time I have felt at one with the bike and full comfortably getting back to a decent speed.

I am really happy with the bike, the new team and things going forward.

North West 200 record wins holder Alastair Seeley tells BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson that the high speed stretches of the Triangle circuit came as a bit of a "shock to the system" after the Carrickfergus rider spent last year on the sidelines at the event after failing to secure suitable competitive machinery.

The oil spill has been cleared up and the Superbikes are back out on the circuit.

Confirmation that Dean Harrison tops the times in the early stages of the first Superbike qualifying session.

Hondas and BMWs dominating the top-10 leaderboard with David Johnson on the sole Kawasaki in the upper echelons so far.

Image source, BBC Sport

Philip McCallen
11-time race winner on the BBC Sport website

Alastair Seeley knows this course and knows everything, he has years of experience.

The Supertstock he is riding is his own. It is his 2023 winning Superstock so he has got to be pretty happy with that bike.

They have done quite a few updates to bring it up to a higher spec and make it a little bit faster and they'll know how that bike handles.

North West 200 record wins holder Alastair Seeley speaking on BBC iPlayer: "200 miles an hour in your first lap is a good way to get the brain calibrated!

"It is a bit dusty and there are a few stones about. You could see after the first group of riders the dust.

"I tried to stay out of the way as I didn't want any stones going through the radiator and damaging the bike so I held out a little bit."

Honda Racing's John McGuinness speaking on BBC iPlayer: "Last year I didn't ride the Superbike here and it certainly got my attention this year when I started it there.

"Even with all the experience you have, the bike still gets your attention!"

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport at the North West 200

Yorkshireman Dean Harrison has laid down an early benchmark and thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals by topping the practice leaderboard in these early stages.

Harrison has stood on the podium on 10 occasions at the North West but has yet to occupy the top step of the rostrum.

Last year yielded a second and a third place as the now 36-year-old again came close to securing the race victory he craves.

With a year under his belt as part of the Honda Racing set-up could this year be the one when the Bradford rider breaks his win duck?