Classic TT: Sheils Sets Yesteryear Superbike Pace As Speeds Across All Classes Increase

Classic TT: Sheils Sets Yesteryear Superbike Pace As Speeds Across All Classes Increase

Postponed by ten minutes, because of an oil spillage located at the Bungalow, tonight’s Classic TT practice session proved a very productive, tumultuous session for a selection of the world’s best International Road Racers.

As during this afternoon’s session, John McGuinness and the Team Winfield Paton reigned supreme, powering again to the top of the Senior class times sheet.

McGuinness who is on chat show duty this evening with Jamie Whitham, standing start lap saw him set an eye-catching lap speed of 110.13 mph, to further showcase why is regarded as a strong favourite for Bennetts Senior race honours.

Second quickest this evening behind McGuinness was Italian star Stefano Bonetti (108.94 mph), who finished just shy of 14 seconds off the pace produced by the 23 times TT winner.

Reflecting on tonight’s Junior Classic action, TT Privateers Champion Jamie Coward jumped to the top of the practice week leader board, registering an ultra-impressive lap speed of 101.80 mph.

Lead chasers tonight to Ted Woof/Craven Classic Racing’s Coward was the newly engaged Lee Johnston (98.32 mph), whilst others to show strong form included Greenall Racing’s Derek Sheils (98.09 mph) and eight times Sidecar TT winner Dan Sayle (97.79 mph).

Following the Junior/Senior practice session, attentions turned to the bulky yesteryear Superbikes and the great sounding two stroke 250 machines.

Setting the Yesteryear Superbike pace after a potent burst of pace, on his ‘Flying Lap’ was Irish Road Race Superbike Champion Derek Sheils (124.03 mph).

Photo by Nick Wheeler

Sheils piloting one of Greenall Racing’s proven ZXR 750 Kawasaki’s, finished 6.682 seconds quicker than early pace setter Michael Dunlop.

Dunlop who arrived on Manx shores on Wednesday, as at Armoy and the FonaCAB Ulster Grand Prix, went through the pain barrier, showing true grit on route to registering an impressive standing start lap speed of 123.28 mph.

Third fastest, only 0.688 behind 19 times TT winner Dunlop was number 1 plate holder Horst Saiger (123.20 mph), whilst others to show a strong turn of speed included Phil Crowe (121.59 mph) and Herheim Racing’s Ryan Kneen (121.57 mph).

Looking back on this evening’s two stroke action, Bruce Anstey continued his stellar return to Mountain Course affiliated competition, with another outstanding display on the Milenco by Padgetts RS 250 Honda.

Anstey who completed just 1 timed lap, standing start lap speed was an outstanding 117.29 mph, which gave him an advantage at the helm of the Lightweight class times sheet of plus 38 seconds over nearest challenger, new unofficial ‘Tommy Club’ member James Hind (113.54 mph).

Outside of Anstey and Manx GP front runner Hind, recently crowned IRRC Superbike Champion Davey Todd (111.99 mph) quietly impressed in finishing third quickest in front of two stroke machinery legend Ian Lougher (110.08 mph).

Lougher’s Laylaw Racing team mate Dean Harrison who was involved in an incident at Laurel Bank, was reported to have sustained a rib injury, putting the rest of his 2019 Classic TT in jeopardy.

Practice results per class are as follows:

Senior:

1 John McGuinness 110.13
2 Stefano Bonetti 108.94
3 Lee Johnston 106.16
4 Alan Oversby 105.69
5 Chris Swallow 105.26
6 Derek Sheils 105.20
7 Maria Costello MBE 104.46
8 Chris McGahan 101.46
9 Tom Weeden 100.09
10 Keith Clarke 97.05
11 Meredydd Owen 96.68
12 Russell Roebury 94.38
13 Dave Matravers 94.13
14 Ian Bainbridge 90.48
15 Edward Poole 90.03
16 Grant Sellars 89.58
17 Richard Stott 88.68
18 Gary Freeman 87.47
19 Paul Williams 86.52
20 Karl Fox 82.83

Junior:

1 Jamie Coward 101.80
2 Lee Johnston 98.32
3 Derek Sheils 98.09
4 Dan Sayle 97.79
5 Bill Swallow 96.46
6 Paul Jordan 95.76
7 Richard Wilson 95.04
8 Dean Osborne 94.35
9 Ben Rea 94.10
10 Will Loder 93.12
11 Alec Whitwell 91.19
12 Mark Purslow 91.14
13 Jack Hunter 89.31
14 Colin Stockdale 89.18
15 Tony Tuttle 88.99
16 Ken Parkes 88.50
17 Jason Lamb 88.19
18 Jeff Smith 87.02
19 Keith Dixon 86.91
20 Christopher Bray 86.32
21 Justin Roebury 86.15
22 Simon Collins 85.71
23 Roy Phipps 85.05
24 Terence Sansom 84.07
25 Gary Hutton 84.04
26 Jason Burrill 82.75
27 Arthur Browning 81.96

Superbike:

1 Derek Sheils 124.03
2 Michael Dunlop 123.28
3 Horst Saiger 123.20
4 Phil Crowe 121.59
5 Ryan Kneen 121.57
6 Conor Cummins 121.19
7 Michael Sweeney 120.29
8 James Hillier 119.95
9 Rob Hodson 119.38
10 Gary Johnson 118.30
11 Craig Neve 116.99
12 Paul Jordan 116.84
13 Julian Trummer 116.66
14 Andy Farrell 116.09
15 Brian McCormack 115.59
16 Josh Daley 114.55
17 Adrian Harrison 114.33
18 Joe Thompson 114.30
19 Paul Williams 113.54
20 Rhys Hardisty 112.92
21 Richard Wilson 112.14
22 Dave Hewson 111.95
23 Mark Parrett 111.57
24 Michael Booth 111.52
25 Rob Barber 110.62
26 Danny Webb 110.34
27 Allan Brodie 109.58
28 Dave Madsen Mygdal 109.58
29 Eric Wilson 109.47
30 Darren Cooper 109.22
31 Darryl Tweed 109.00
32 Lancelot Unissart 108.64
33 Gary Vines 105.35
34 Alec Whitwell 103.67
35 Steve Moody 102.61
36 Michael Rutter 100.27

Lightweight:

1 Bruce Anstey 117.29
2 James Hind 113.54
3 Davey Todd 111.99
4 Ian Lougher 110.08
5 Chris Moore 110.06
6 Carsten Svendsen 109.83
7 Lee Johnston 108.46
8 Sam Grief 105.88
9 Tom Snow 104.98
10 Steven Howard 104.08
11 Christopher Dowling 101.11
12 Richard Lambourne 101.06
13 Adrian Morris 100.87
14 Hefyn Owen 100.71
15 Andrew Davies 99.89
16 Will Loder 98.85
17 Lee Jennings 98.75
18 Alex Sinclair 98.16
19 David Glover 97.89
20 Mike Carter 97.60
21 Dave Madsen Mygdal 94.88
22 Colin Croft 92.97

Words by Stevie Rial

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