2022 NW200: Irwin smashes record on way to pole

Glenn Irwin set the fastest-ever lap around the current 8.9-mile NW200 circuit on Thursday morning to claim pole position for Saturday’s two Superbike races

The Honda Racing rider led for much of the session but after briefly being pushed back to second by Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW), a lap of 4’20.205s (124.102mph) sent him more than two seconds quicker. Richard Cooper (Hawk Racing Suzuki) placed third to join them on the front row.

Strong winds were again an issue but the 8.9-mile circuit was dry all round and it was Irwin who was first to set a time, a lap of 4.25.498s already 3.5s quicker than Josh Brookes’ quickest lap from Tuesday. That put him 3.3s ahead of Cooper with James Hillier, Alastair Seeley, Conor Cummins and Lee Johnston following. Ian Hutchinson, Dean Harrison, Michael Rutter and Hickman completed the early top ten. Next time around, Irwin quickened his pace to a 4’24.340s but although Cooper was still in second, he’d cut the gap to 1.9s. Johnston moved up to third and was a similar distance behind whilst Cummins, Hutchinson, Harrison, Rutter and Hickman all returned to the pits to make adjustments. Meanwhile, an impressive lap came from newcomer Nathan Harrison, the Manxman slotting into 14th, one place behind John McGuinness and ahead of the likes of Brookes, Michael Dunlop and Gary Johnson. Circulating at the head of the field, Irwin continued to bang in the laps and shaved another 1.3s off his time on his fourth flying lap, a time of 4’23.036s extending his advantage over Cooper to 3.2s. Johnston, Hillier, Seeley and Cummins continued to occupy third to sixth with Nathan Harrison now up to 12th. With 30 minutes to go, more changes in the leaderboard started to happen and Davey Todd was one of