2016 Ulster GP: Anstey takes top spot in first-ever Superpole

Bruce Anstey will start from pole position for the two Superbike races at the Ulster Grand Prix after lapping at 133.551mph in the first ever Superpole session held at the Dundrod circuit. With dry conditions all round the circuit on early Saturday afternoon, the Kiwi took the Valvoline Honda RCV-213S around 1.667s quicker than Michael Dunlop with Peter Hickman and Ian Hutchinson completing the front row.

Dan Kneen was the first to start the lap and had actually reached the hairpin with fastest in practice Michael Dunlop yet to leave the line but the start and finish line was cleared just in time for when the Mar Train Racing Yamaha rider started his flying lap. He completed the lap at 130.536mph to initially go quickest although he eventually ended up seventh quickest.

Conor Cummins knocked him off the top spot with his lap of 131.347mph but that was only good enough for fifth as Anstey, Dunlop, Hickman and Hutchinson all lapped at more than 132mph.

Anstey was the only rider in the 133mph bracket though, setting the fastest lap of the week so far, which should put him in confident mood as he aims to take the feature 7-lap Superbike race for the third year in a row.

Superpole times

1 SBK 5 Bruce ANSTEY Honda - Valvoline Racing by Padgetts 3:19.504 133.551 2 2
2 SBK 1 Michael DUNLOP BMW - Hawk Racing 3:21.171 1.667 132.444 2 3
3 SBK 60 Peter HICKMAN Kawasaki - GB Moto Racing 3:21.384 1.880 132.304 2 2
4 SBK 4 Ian HUTCHINSON BMW - Tyco BMW Motorrad Racing 3:21.516 2.012 132.218 2 2
5 SBK 10 Conor CUMMINS Honda - Honda Racing 3:22.851 3.347 131.347 2 2
6 SBK 2 Dean HARRISON Kawasaki - Silicone Engineering 3:22.961 3.457 131.276 2 2
7 SBK 14 Dan KNEEN Yamaha - Mar-Train Yamaha Racing 3:24.112 4.608 130.536 2 2
8 SBK 7 Gary JOHNSON BMW - ECC/Burdens 3:24.231 4.727 130.460 2 2
9 SBK 51 Derek SHEILS Suzuki - Cookstown BE Racing 3:25.313 5.809 129.772 2 2
10 SBK 6 William DUNLOP Yamaha - IC / MMB Racing 3:25.395 5.891 129.721 2 2