North West 200 qualifying begins

The 2026 North West 200 has officially commenced on Northern Ireland's north coast, with Richard Cooper emerging as the early man to beat.

Cooper topped the timesheets in both the Superbike and Supersport qualifying sessions despite treacherous conditions caused by heavy rain and low temperatures.

The opening day also saw drama as newcomer Wesley Ankersmid escaped serious injury after a spectacular crash at Black Hill.

Meanwhile, racing legend Michael Dunlop announced he would not be riding his new Ducati Superbike this week, citing the need for further development of the machine.