By Getting underway thirty minutes behind schedule at 2:00 PM, the opening Classic Superbike practice session of this year’s Manx Grand Prix, saw the vast majority of the anticipated front runners show solid turns of speed.
Pace setters, separated by only 0.983 were the Greenall Racing pair of Rob Hodson and Brian McCormack.
Multiple Southern 100 winner Hodson lapped at 120.060 mph whilst team-mate McCormack, post his third timed lap, lapped at 120.164 mph which equates timing wise to just over 19 minutes.
Third-fifth fastest all lapping over the 119-mph lap mark were Craig Neve (119.911), Mistral Racing’s Paul Jordan (119.635) and making a prominent roads scene return, reigning class Champion David Johnson (119.606).
Wrapping up this afternoon’s ten speediest yesteryear Superbike pilots were Dominic Herbertson (118.207), Team Classic Suzuki’s Phil Crowe (117.839), Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams (117.683), Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil (117.308) and third best from the Greenall Racing stable, Nathan Harrison (117.281).
Others quietly catching the eye included Barry Furber (115.763), Anthony Redmond (114.695) and DP Coldplaning/TC Racing’s Julian Trummer (112.951).
Amongst those to encounter problems during the one hour 20 minutes plus session included 21 times TT winner Michael Dunlop, who’s challenge concluded at Greeba Castle.
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
