TT 2018: Near 133 Mph Lap Takes Tyco BMW’s Dunlop To Top Of Friday’s Time Sheets

TT 2018: Near 133 Mph Lap Takes Tyco BMW’s Dunlop To Top Of Friday’s Time Sheets

Following a lengthy delay due to a road traffic collision at Graham Memorial which needed a road sweeper to venture onto the Mountain Course to remove oil, the final Superbike practice session of TT 2018 before tomorrow’s race day, provided more world class big bike TT action.

For the first time this week Tyco BMW’s Michael Dunlop took the top spot on the time sheets. Touted by many as ‘sandbagging’ throughout practice week, the outright Mountain Course lap record jumped up to second on the overall practice week leader board, lapping at 132.983 mph.

Dunlop’s pace setting lap speed from this evening, is all the more notable given that there were yellow flags at Graham Memorial following the oil spillage from the aforementioned RTC. Without the yellow flags could he have dipped over the 134 mph mark?

Photo by Mark Corlett

It sets things up nicely for race day, as Ballymoney’s Dunlop bids to make it four Superbike TT successes in six years.

Behind Dunlop on tonight’s time sheets, Silicone Engineering Racing’s Dean Harrison (131.858) who on Tuesday night unofficially broke the Superbike TT lap record and like his S1000RR BMW mounted counterpart has the undoubted credentials to stand on the top step of the rostrum tomorrow.

Same applies to third fastest tonight James Hillier (130.644), traditionally saving his best form for race day, the Quattro Plant/JG Speedfit Kawasaki racer is not to be underestimated ahead of tomorrow’s race.

Placing’s 4th, 5th and 6th within this evening’s time sheets were claimed respectively by Gulf BMW’s David Johnson (130.097), Padgetts Conor Cummins (129.461) and Market Rasen’s Phil Crowe (128.491).

Photo by Mark Corlett

Honda Racing’s Ian Hutchinson (128.006) seventh fastest was a whisker over the 128 mph mark whilst RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki’s Gary Johnson (127.877) like Bingley’s Hutchinson also showed better pace big bike wise.

Wrapping up the top ten within Friday night’s Superbike practice leader board were Norton’s Josh Brookes (127.739) and the evergreen Michael Rutter (127.448).

Friday evening – Superbike Practice Results:

1 Michael Dunlop 132.983
2 Dean Harrison 131.858
3 James Hillier 130.644
4 David Johnson 130.097
5 Conor Cummins 129.461
6 Phil Crowe 128.491
7 Ian Hutchinson 128.006
8 Gary Johnson 127.877
9 Josh Brookes 127.739
10 Michael Rutter 127.448
11 Martin Jessopp 127.228
12 Derek Sheils 127.162
13 Shaun Anderson 126.802
14 Lee Johnston 126.742
15 Jamie Coward 126.526
16 Ivan Lintin 126.361
17 Brian McCormack 125.920
18 Dominic Herbertson 125.578
19 Derek McGee 125.476
20 James Cowton 124.589
21 Daley Mathison 123.609
22 Adam Lyon 123.443
23 Stefano Bonetti 122.894
24 Andy Dudgeon 122.150
25 Danny Webb 122.011
26 Ian Lougher 121.905
27 Barry Evans 121.452
28 Michael Booth 120.538
29 Raul Torras 120.334
30 Adrian Harrison 119.145
31 Davy Morgan 118.573
32 David Jackson 118.183
33 Barry Furber 117.857
34 Fabrice Miguet 117.762
35 Julien Toniutti 117.201
36 Tom Weeden 117.150
37 Xavier Denis 116.725
38 George Spence 116.322
39 Paul Williams 116.206
40 Mike Norbury 115.899

Words by Stevie Rial

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