Superbikes practice red-flagged twice because of oil on track
Hickman sets fastest Superbike lap time at 121.732mph
Supersport session also red-flagged after racing incident
Two taken to hospital after the Supersport incident
Superstock and Supertwins sessions cancelled
Philip McCallen
11-time race winner on the BBC Sport website
I have raced against a Dunlop with confidence many times and I know people have raced against specifically Michael many times as well.
At the TT last year and at other times when Michael has pulled his finger out and is confident with his bike, he wins.
Superbike qualifying
Stephen Watson caught up with Stephen Degnan ahead of Superbike qualifying.
'I still think I'm 21 until I look in the mirror" - Degnan
Superbike qualifying
We've heard on the circuit tannoy the red flag is for oil spill at the back end of the circuit.
Superbike qualifying
1. Dean Harrison 4:26.030 (121.385 mph)
2. Peter Hickman 4:27.852 (120.559 mph)
3. Alatsair Seeley 4:31.699 (118.852 mph)
4. Paul Jordan 4:33.780 (117.949 mph)
5. Jamie Coward 4:35.780 (117.414 mph)
6. Michael Sweeney 4:36.191 (116.919 mph)
7. Ian Hutchinson 4:36.242 (116.898 mph)
8. Nathan Harrison 4:36.495 (116.791 mph)
Superbike qualifying
Superbike qualifying
Harrison responds to post the fastest time of the day so far with a 4:26.030.
Hickman slots into second place and Seeley is third.
Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop have yet to set a time in anger yet.
Keith Huewen
BBC Sport NI commentator
It's still cool on the racetrack. We're not in Italian style track temperatures at the minute!
The wind has dropped though and it is a really nice condition to be riding in.
Superbike qualifying
The first flying laps are in and it's Alastair Seeley who leads the way ahead of Dean Harrison, Peter Hickman and Paul Jordan.
The Wee Wizard clocked a time of 4:31.669, which just under half a second ahead of Harrison.
Italian rider Andrea Majola, who is here for his third time at the North West 200, speaking on BBC iPlayer: "We have a good chance to get a good position with our Supersport bike and now we will see with the Superbike as well.
"I love coming here. The organisation is perfect and the timing is good."
KTS Racing's Jamie Coward speaking on BBC iPlayer: "We are just running the same bike in both classes which means we will double up on times so after today, we should have a pretty good direction of which way to go.
"The new bike is going really well. Everywhere I have been, I have been as fast as I have so I'm really looking forward to getting started."
Richard Petrie
BBC Sport at the North West 200
Michael Dunlop is adopting what is now his customary approach during practice at the North West 200 and hanging back to go out at the back of the field and enjoy some clear road in front of him.
The Ballymoney man's Superbike was officially unveiled just yesterday and it looks mint in the traditional colours of German manufacturer BMW.
Could a first NW200 win since 2016 be on the cards this week?
You would think the riders would take it nice and steady on their first lap.
Dean Harrison has just clocked 204mph through the speedtrap on the run to University corner.
Wow.
Image source, PacemakerThe Superbikes will kick off today's action on the north coast, however one big name is missing.
Glenn Irwin has dominated the class in recent years, but he has now retired from road racing which has opened the door for a new king.
Davey Todd will be one of the favourites after pushing home hero Irwin all the way last year, while Alastair Seeley knows a thing or two about winning on big bikes at the NW200.
There will be a lot of intrigue surrounding Michael Dunlop on on home turf, while Dean Harrison, Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes are some other names to look out for.
2024Superbike race one - 1 Glenn Irwin; 2 Michael Dunlop; 3 Davey Todd
2024 Superbike race two - 1 Glenn Irwin; 2 Davey Todd; 3 Dean Harrison
2024 Superbike race three - 1 Glenn Irwin; 2 Davey Todd; 3 Michael Dunlop
Burrows Engineering/RK Racing's Conor Cummins speaking to BBC iPlayer: "I have worked really hard over winter and I am ready to go. The bikes are going really well and we'll see what happens.
"I had a lap around last night in the van and if last year is anything to go by, it's going to be fast and I hope I am in the mix."
Superbike qualifying
The Superbikes are out on the circuits!
The North West 200 is officially under way!
Image source, PacemakerMichael Dunlop says "there is no reason why he can't be at the front" as he competes for wins at this year's North West 200 international road races.
The 36-year-old has five North West wins to his name but is aiming to end a nine-year drought since his last victory over the Triangle circuit in 2016.
Dunlop will ride BMW machinery in the Superbike and Superstock classes and a Ducati V2 in the Supersport category.
"I'm looking forward to it, the two big bikes and the Supersport, just to see where we are at," Dunlop told BBC Sport NI.
"I'm going to give it a go, that's for sure. The big bike's very unknown but there's no reason it shouldn't be on the money. There's no reason why I can't be at the front.
"Obviously being local and from my dad [Robert, a 15-time NW200 winner] and Joey's era there's a lot of hardcore fans round here and I'd like to put on a show for them."
The North West 200 takes place on 8.9 miles of closed public roads on Northern Ireland's north coast.
Starting in between Portrush and Portstewart, riders start their lap by heading down the coast road to York corner - a tight hairpin bend.
From there, they work their way down a fast, flowing run to University Corner in Coleraine, navigating through the fearsome Station corner and the fastest part of the circuit.
After a blast over the freshly repaved link road, riders start the second half of the lap with the long road back to Portrush, with two chicanes to dance around before another heavy braking zone at Metropole.
They will then blast back onto the coast road to finish the lap, battling for the slipstream as they take on the Juniper Hill chicane before a sprint to the line.
Image source, BBC Sport
Lee Johnston
Five-time NW200 winner on BBC iPlayer
I think it's the most open the Superbikes has been in the last five to ten years.
Even with the riders changing teams and manufacturers, all these things are playing into the hands of making it uncertain who will be a winner and that makes it better for us and the fans!
Honda's Dean Harrison speaking on BBC iPlayer: "This is the only road race I haven't won, so I have to get my finger out a little bit!
"The bikes are all strong and I feel like I can run at the front. The pace has been great all year, so I'm ready to go. Also look at the weather, it couldn't be better.
"Minus Glenn Irwin (who has retired from road racing), I think it's one of the best grids we have had here in years."
Image source, PacemakerDavey Todd says he is aiming to win his first Superbike race at the North West 200 but expects strong competition.
Todd, 28, has six victories at the international road race but has yet to taste victory in the blue riband class.
Glenn Irwin, who won 11 Superbike races in a row, announced his retirement from road racing, which has opened the door for a new winner in the big-bike class.
"It's a shame Glenn isn't here. I'd love to do battle with him again, we had some fantastic ones over the last few years," Todd told BBC Sport NI.
"I've managed to get a lot of wins in the other races, but I want those Superbike wins.
"Just because Glenn isn't here any more doesn't mean there won't be any competition. There will still be a lot of fast guys who will push me all the way.
"We have to do our job, we have to get out there and ride as well as we can. I'm up for that challenge."
