Like many other competitors in the right lane in the first round of Friday evening qualifying, Victorian Suzuki rider, Lachie Ireland left the line in an any which way but straight attitude resulting in a mid-eleven second time. Second time around he had more luck and this placed him fourth in the eight-bike field – this put him up against the similar Suzuki mount of Michael Gilbertson. Despite his rival gaining a hole-shot he managed to pull around him to record a 7.450 to 7.516 win that put him in the semis against Bob Shaw. This time though in a battle of the Suzukis it was Ireland who gained five hundreths off the line, however the superior power of the the north Queensland rider’s mount saw him run low ET of the meet, a 7.352 to turn back Ireland’s 7.487.