Despite a few damp patches around the Mountain Course, allied to changing weather conditions, the pace during tonight’s opening practice session of this years Manx Grand Prix was extremely impressive.
Getting his second Mountain Course tenure off to a highly productive start, The Peoples Bike Team’s Stephen Parsons surged to the top of the Junior, Senior class time sheets.
ZX6R Kawasaki mounted Parsons who lapped from a standing start at just over the 115 mph mark, flying lap saw him nudge over the 116 mph mark, securing a best lap speed of 116.450 mph.
Just over six seconds behind Parsons in finishing second quickest was Stephen Smith (115.791), whilst third, fourth, fifth fastest respectively Steven Procter (115.38), Dean Osborne (115.252) and reigning Newcomers A race runner up Darryl Tweed (115.231) all showed a good turn of pace.
Photo by Mark Corlett
Leading 750 mounted racer from this evening was Martin Bullock Manxsport’s Brendan Fargher (114.010), eighth fastest within the Senior class time sheets.
In total over 21 riders tonight lapped over the 110 mph mark, including event returnee Morgan Govignon (113.778).
Looking back on Ultra Lightweight practice which saw racers gain just one timed lap, before a mixture of increasing fog, mist brought an end to the session, Dan Ingham aboard his trusty RVF 400 Honda headed the time sheets, breaking the 100 mph lap speed barrier, lapping at 100.284 mph.
Behind Ingham, the four remaining class competitors to complete laps were Mike Carter (97.060), Alex Sinclair (95.652), Jason Lamb (94.048), Derek Wilkie (84.973) and Denmark’s Carsten Svendsen (70.75).
Fingal Motor Club backed Dave Butler (107.91) nearing lapping in excess of 108 mph mark, headed the Lightweight time sheets by nigh on ten seconds, with Dafabet Devitt Racing sponsored, TZ 250 Yamaha mounted Chris Moore (107.13) finishing second quickest.
Brad Vicars return to roads action ended in an early retirement at Braddan Bridge, whilst another early non finisher was Richard Duncan, who’s practice session came to a halt at Bray Hill.
We must not forget as well that tonight marked the first competitive Mountain Course lap, for over 30 event newcomers.
One can only imagine the sense of achievement and accomplishment they must have felt when they completed their first lap, albeit under speed controlled conditions.
Practice results per class are as follows:
Junior:
1 Stephen Parsons 116.450
2 Stephen Smith 115.791
3 Steven Procter 115.380
4 Dean Osborne 115.252
5 Darryl Tweed 115.231
6 Dave Butler 114.94
7 James Chawke 114.66
8 David Lumsden 114.36
9 Morgan Govignon 113.78
10 Damian Horan 113.67
11 Michael Hand 113.55
12 Andy Farrell 113.46
13 Wayne Humble 113.17
14 Jason Corcoran 112.95
15 Adrian Hartog 112.95
16 David McConnachy 112.59
17 Brendan Fargher 112.13
18 Stuart Hall 112.13
19 Francesco Curinga 112.03
20 Shaun Evans 111.72
Senior:
1 Stephen Parsons 116.450
2 Stephen Smith 115.791
3 Steven Procter 115.380
4 Dean Osborne 115.252
5 Darryl Tweed 115.231
6 Dave Butler 114.94
7 James Chawke 114.66
8 David Lumsden 114.36
9 Brendan Fargher 114.01
10 Morgan Govignon 113.78
11 Damian Horan 113.67
12 Michael Hand 113.55
13 Andy Farrell 113.46
14 Marc Colvin 113.20
15 Wayne Humble 113.17
16 Jason Corcoran 112.95
17 Adrian Hartog 112.95
18 David McConnachy 112.59
19 Stuart Hall 112.13
20 Francesco Curinga 112.03
Ultra Lightweight:
1 Dan Ingham 100.284
2 Mike Carter 97.060
3 Alex Sinclair 95.652
4 Jason Lamb 94.048
5 Derek Wilkie 84.973
6 Carsten Svendsen 70.75
Lightweight:
1 Dave Butler 107.91
2 Chris Moore 107.13
3 Victor Lopez Santos 106.57
4 Andy Farrell 105.85
5 Dave Quine 103.65
6 Leon Murphy 103.08
7 Brad Vicars 102.75
8 Stephen Ault 100.61
9 Peter Moore 99.66
10 Steven Horne 99.35
11 Jamie Edwards 99.24
12 Richard Saville 98.95
13 Ali Foster 97.00
14 Paul Wardell 93.89
15 Nick Southerwood 93.40
16 Paul Williams 92.60
17 Wayne Martin 92.12
18 Trevor Matthewson 91.35
19 Renzo Van Der Donckt 91.25
20 Alun Thomas 88.09
21 Ian Stanford 85.74
22 Martin Currams 85.16
23 Tommy Henry 83.73
Words by Stevie Rial