Classic TT: Friday Evening Practice Report

Classic TT: Friday Evening Practice Report

Competitors wishes came true for tonight as the sun appeared on the horizon, ahead of timed practice.

Despite course conditions been not ideal with damp, drying roads greeting racers, the pace on track was still very impressive.

Continuing his yesteryear Superbike class domination, Silicone Engineering Racing’s Dean Harrison headed tonight’s time sheets by almost the 20 second mark. Harrison bidding to become the first rider since Michael Dunlop to retain the RST Superbike Classic TT crown, reeled off a series of 121 mph laps, banking a quickest lap speed of 121.523 mph.

The reigning Duke Road Race Rankings champion also starred this evening on the Laylaw Racing Yamaha, finishing under five seconds behind class pace setter Adam McLean (114.471), lapping at just over the 114 mph mark in only his third competitive lap aboard his new TZ 250 Yamaha steed.

Nearest challengers to Bradford’s Harrison on the bulky, ultra powerful Classic Superbikes were the Greenall Racing duo of Horst Saiger (119.457) and Derek Sheils (118.975), whilst fourth fastest Andy Dudgeon (118.926) further bolstered the ZXR 750 Kawasaki presence at the sharp end of the practice leader board.

Reflecting on tonight’s Junior 350 class action, Hebden Bridge’s Jamie Coward who’s over the years shown strong craft on 350 machinery, comfortably topped the time sheets.

Photo by Mark Corlett

Coward in contention for an overall top five finish in this years IRRC Superbike series, quickest lap of 101.744 mph, made him the only Junior 350 competitor this evening to lap in excess of the 100 mph mark.

Behind Coward, veteran Bill Swallow (97.207), Lightweight class pace setter McLean (97.037), Dan Cooper (96.901) were closely matched in finishing second, third, fourth fastest, we must mention as well the accomplished form of the likes of Sam Johnson (95.232), Steve Ferguson (95.119), Hefyn Owen (94.495).

Looking back on Senior 500 practice, more plaudits a plenty were laid upon John McGuinness, who’s road racing comeback on Roger Winfield’s immaculate Paton continues to go from strength to strength.

McGuinness comprehensively quickest tonight via an excellent flying lap of 109.663 mph, it’s fair to say will be very hard to beat in tomorrow’s scheduled four lap Bennetts Senior race.

Don’t discount though nearest pursuers tonight Junior 350 pace setter Coward (105.123), Maria Costello MBE (104.642), Lee Johnston (103.589) leading the Davies Motorsport challenge and Izzard Racing’s Michael Russell (101.177).

Results per class from this evening’s practice session, are as follows:

Junior:

1 Jamie Coward 101.744
2 Bill Swallow 97.207
3 Adam McLean 97.037
4 Dan Cooper 96.901
5 Sam Johnson 95.232
6 Steve Ferguson 95.119
7 Hefyn Owen 94.495
8 Chris Swallow 94.466
9 Alex Sinclair 93.798
10 Jeff Ward 92.261
11 Dave Moffitt 92.254
12 Alec Whitwell 91.642
13 Leon Murphy 91.501
14 Mark Purslow 90.896
15 Dave Madsen Mygdal 90.251
16 Dave Matravers 89.621
17 Conor Cummins 89.504
18 Chris Moore 89.417
19 Meredydd Owen 89.265
20 Jack Hunter 88.229

Lightweight:

1 Adam McLean 114.471
2 Dean Harrison 114.057
3 Lee Johnston 111.222
4 Michael Sweeney 110.555
5 Gary Vines 108.440
6 Davy Morgan 107.706
7 Rikki McGovern 106.692
8 Carsten Svendsen 106.234
9 Chris Swallow 106.115
10 Joe Thompson 105.686
11 Rhys Hardisty 105.497
12 Steven Howard 104.482
13 Phil Harvey 104.482
14 Chris Moore 104.199
15 Tom Snow 101.968
16 Peter Boast 100.640
17 Simon Hunt 100.580
18 Stephen Ault 100.578
19 Adrian Morris 98.299
20 Neal Champion 98.111

Senior:

1 John McGuinness 109.663
2 Jamie Coward 105.123
3 Maria Costello MBE 104.642
4 Lee Johnston 103.589
5 Chris Swallow 103.253
6 Chris McGahan 101.708
7 Michael Russell 101.177
8 James Hillier 100.897
9 Michael Rutter 100.340
10 Steve Ferguson 99.584
11 Phil McGurk 99.257
12 Peter Boast 98.786
13 Joe Thompson 98.667
14 Alan Oversby 98.653
15 John Leigh Pemberton 97.734
16 Bob Owen 97.457
17 Danny Webb 96.698
18 Richard Wilson 96.691
19 Hefyn Owen 96.421
20 Dave Madsen Mygdal 95.038

Superbike:

1 Dean Harrison 121.523
2 Horst Saiger 119.457
3 Derek Sheils 118.975
4 Andy Dudgeon 118.926
5 Conor Cummins 118.770
6 Paul Jordan 117.700
7 Michael Evans 117.185
8 Michael Rutter 116.744
9 Gary Johnson 116.577
10 Julian Trummer 114.973
11 Rob Hodson 114.862
12 David Johnson 114.825
13 Phil Crowe 114.213
14 Josh Brookes 114.035
15 Danny Webb 113.964
16 Sam West 112.499
17 Michael Russell 111.789
18 Ben Wylie 111.722
19 Allan Brodie 111.683
20 Brian McCormack 111.675

Words by Stevie Rial

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