And win everything, says bullish Michael

Derek McGee and the McAdoo Kawasaki pair of James Cowtown and Adam McLean.

Whoever pushes the hardest on the vital opening lap could well open up a race winning lead. A similar story could well unfold in the afternoon RL360 4-lap Superstock race, scheduled for 2.15pm, with the same men vying to lift Silver Mercury Lady after 151 miles of fast racing around the most demanding circuit in the world.

This is an intriguing contest with the manufacturers all chasing the top prize in this race, featuring bikes closest to what any customer can walk into a showroom and buy.

It was a BMW 1-2-3-4 last year with Ian Hutchinson on top of the rostrum with Dean Harrison and Dunlop back in fifth and sixth positions.

Dunlop is back on his own Tyco team’s BMW this year, Hutchinson is now Honda mounted with Harrison sticking to Kawasaki.

Hickman (BMW), Dave Johnson (BMW), Lee Johnston (Honda) Rutter (BMW), Cummins (Honda) and Hillier (Kawasaki) could make this the closest race of the week.

Dunlop again led qualifying less than a second ahead of Harrison with Rutter third fastest 10 seconds down on the Bradford man.

Again, the early pace will be crucial. There’s no more pacing yourself for a lap to get up to speed —it is head down from the first plunge down Bray Hill and keep it lit to the chequered flag, remembering your fuel stop at the end of lap two.

At Kirkistown on Saturday, Gerard Kinghan from Randalstown lifted the Mayor’s Trophy after a Superbike double during the B&D Club promoted AJ Plumbing Ulster Superbike Championship to take a 37 and a half point lead in the championship.

Kinghan headed Ryan Gibson and Aaron Armstrong home in both shortened races, due to incidents.

Reigning champion Jason Lyn won both Supersport races on Saturday, taking race one by 0.223secs from championship leader Korie McGreevy, who had a similar margin gap on third placed Robert Kennedy. Race two saw Donegal’s Richard Kerr finish over a second behind Lynn with McGreevy third.