Michael Dunlop belies any discomfort he is feeling from his earlier spill in the Superstock practice as he moves fourth on the Superbike leaderboard with a lap speed of 122.974mph on his BMW.

Harrison, Todd, Seeley, Dunlop, Hickman, Kostamo are your top six at the moment.

Hawk Racing boss Steve Hicken speaking on BBC iPlayer: "He [Michael Dunlop] went down in the Superstock session and that obviously wasn't part of the plan today.

"He is pretty sore. He is obviously one tough cookie but it is probably going to hinder him a little bit tonight.

"It is relentless now with the practice sessions into the racing tonight so we'll see.

"Hopefully he can complete in all of the races this evening, but I don't know if we will have to drop one going forward."

Dean Harrison has put his Honda in provisional pole position for the three Superbike races at this year's North West.

The Japanese manufacturer is by far the most successful marque in this class with 35 victories over the years, followed by Yamaha with 16 and Ducati 11, the latter's total having been boosted significantly by Glenn Irwin's exploits over recent years.

Harrison is one of a number of riders, also including Peter Hickman and Davey Todd, hoping to secure a maiden Superbike triumph at this year's event.

Glenn Irwin, who has won the past 11 Superbike races at the North West, stretching back to race two in 2017, tells BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson who he thinks might follow in his wheeltracks by taking victory in the three big bike races this week.

Lee Johnston
Five-time winner on BBC iPlayer

Jamie Coward seems really happy on the bike straight away.

This is his first road race in a year and his first time here in three years so to be in the top six straight away is really positive.

Lee Johnston
Five-time winner on BBC iPlayer

Dean Harrison likes to ride on his own most of the time, that is why he goes so well at the TT, so that won't bother him one bit.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the North West 200

It's hard to believe that Dean Harrison hasn't won a race around the North West 200 given the amount of laps he has spun about the place over the years, but he's been absolutely on it so far.

He would be a very, very popular winner if he can pull it off this week.

Dean Harrison is the man on top in the early stages of Superbike qualifying.

He becomes the first rider this week to lap in excess of 124mph with an average lap speed of 124.062mph.

Davey Todd is his nearest challenger with 123.702, 0.75 seconds behind his compatriot.

Alastair Seeley is third with 122.642, followed by Jamie Coward at 120.814.

Erno Kostamo from Finland, Mike Browne, David Johnson and Michael Rutter are next in the standings so far.

Loris Britton speaking on BBC iPlayer: "I'd love to race here. It's been a dream ever since I was a little kid, watching my dad win here and being here every year with the family.

"It would mean a lot for me to race here someday.

"When I come to the road racing especially, everyone always talks about my dad [Richard Britton] and there are nothing but nice words to be said about him.

"It means a lot to me whenever you hear the stories about him. It was never really about how good a rider he was, it was how much of a nice person he was which I like hearing more."

Loris is the son of popular former North West 200 winner Richard Britton.

Tom Booth-Amos chats to Lee Johnston in pitlane.

Keith Huewen
BBC Sport NI commentator

The temperature is beautiful. It is now 35.5 degrees at the track and there is virtually no breeze at all.

The final qualifying session for today is the Superbikes, the blue riband feature class of the meeting.

The bikes are out on track for their 'out lap'.

Jenny Tinmouth
Fastest woman around the IOM TT

The Superbike class is so hard to call. This year seems wide open and it could be anybody.

Glenn Irwin speaking on BBC iPlayer: "Davey Todd was so close last year and he is racing well but his Superbike, he hasn't had a lot of time on it.

"I am going to go safe and say Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman for the Superbike class, but I am open to be surprised!"

Honda- Jackson Racing Powered By Prosper2's Josh Brookes speaking on BBC iPlayer: "I'm not 100% happy with myself.

"I'm just wondering how to go as quick as I have been because I feel like on the straight, you're going the quickest the bike can go.

"My braking is getting better, I'm getting closer to a competitive position with braking.

"The cornering and the tyres, that all feels where it should."

Peter Hickman posted the fastest lap speed in an opening North West 200 Superbike qualifying session which was disrupted by two lengthy red flag stoppages caused by oil spills on Wednesday.

The Lincolnshire rider recorded an average speed of 121.732mph on his 8Ten Racing BMW to occupy provisional pole position for Thursday evening's opening Superbike race and the two outings in the premier class on Saturday.

The four-time North West race winner told BBC Sport afterwards that "it was the most comfortable he had ever felt on a Superbike at the North West".

Second on the practice leaderboard was Yorkshireman Dean Harrison, who lapped at 121.385 on his Honda Racing Fireblade.

The 36-year-old hit a top speed of 209pmh during the big bike session, with the Isle of Man resident saying that his bike "felt pretty good straight off".

Read more here

Image source, pacemaker

Michael 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."

Image source, Pacemaker

Here's a reminder of the fastest times set in Wednesday's first qualifying session for the Superbikes...

Peter Hickman led the way from Dean Harrison and Alastair Seeley after a session which was twice disrupted by stoppages to deal with oil on the circuit.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Pacemaker

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.

The first session was disrupted on Wednesday with two red flags for oil spills, but when things got going it was Hickman who led the way from Harrison and Seeley.

Opening Superbike session - 1 Peter Hickman; 2 Dean Harrison; 3 Alastair Seeley

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

Glenn Irwin has dominated the Superbike class at the North West 200 in recent years, the Northern Ireland rider racking up an incredible 11 wins in a row in the feature blue riband category of the meeting.

That remarkable sequence, stretching from race two in 2017 right through until 2024, saw the 35-year-old become the most successful Superbike rider ever over the Triangle circuit, eclipsing the previous record of nine wins achieved by Michael Rutter and the late Joey Dunlop.

With Irwin announcing his retirement from road racing in October, an opportunity opens up for other leading riders to occupy the top step of the podium at this year's event.

As was the case for the first time last year, three 'big bike' races will be staged this time around, one on Thursday night and a further two on Saturday.

BBC Sport NI assesses some of the potential contenders to assume Irwin's crown as the king of the Superbike class in 2025.

Read who we think might be the contenders to Glenn Irwin's crown as king of the Superbike class here.

Image source, Pacemaker