TT 2018: Tuesday Practice Week Paddock News

TT 2018: Tuesday Practice Week Paddock News

Astutely pointed out via Twitter by Glenn Irwin, Dean Harrison’s third timed lap on the Silicone Engineering Racing Kawasaki Superbike from last evening’s practice session, saw him lap from a standing start at over the 131 mph mark.

This is the first time in the opening practice session of a TT meeting that a rider has nudged over the 131 mph mark, a quite significant achievement for Bradford’s Harrison.

Photo by Jim Gibson

Fellow front running big bike contender Peter Hickman was overall very happy with the performance of the Smiths Racing BMW’s in Superbike and Superstock trim.

Whilst others to enjoy productive practice sessions included Ian Lougher aboard the great sounding MMX 500 Suter.

Already looking more competitive than from their first TT tilt in 2016, Welshman Lougher lapping at 121.049 mph took the two stroke MMX 500 steed to a very respectable 28th on the Superbike time sheets.

Photo by Nick Wheeler

David ‘Action’ Jackson enjoyed much better fortunes last night, than from Saturday evening, as he reeled off series of lap speeds in excess of the 113 mph mark, ending the evening with a best lap speed of 113.933 mph.

Fellow Mountain Course newcomer Adam Lyon produced 100 percent one of the best performances of last nights competition breaking through the 120 mph barrier, lapping at 120.186 mph.

Cookstown BE Racing’s Davey Todd, second quickest debutant also impressed nudging past the 119 mph mark, whilst leading Sidecar newcomer from Monday night was Marlene Couillard (99.68) passenger to experienced French TT exponent Francois Leblond.

In total just 32 Sidecar crews completed practice laps last evening whilst in total 60 solo racers all banked qualifying laps within the Superbike/Superstock practice session.

PRF Racing’s Barry Evans (120.385) lead the Manx GP graduates challenge, finishing 30th quickest just in front of Wilcock Consulting Racing’s Michael Evans (120.384).

Whilst other notable lap speeds to emerge from Monday night included Padgetts Conor Cummins (129.584), lapping close to the 130 mph mark on the still developing SP2 Fireblade in Superstock trim.

Photo by Mark Corlett

This is certain to be encouraging news as well for the works Honda trio of Lee Johnston and Ian Hutchinson who like Manxman Cummins have been chipping away with the set up, finding the sweet spot with the SP2 Fireblade which clearly is 100 percent more competitive than from 12 months ago.

New Cookstown BE Racing signing AJ Venter, hasn’t yet gained any track time at TT 2018 due to visa problems. The ever enthusiastic South African looks set to open his fifth TT Races campaign tonight.

Following the scintillating, enthralling, captivating action from Monday evening’s practice session, the opening ITV4 broadcast TT program of 2018, based around the events 20 greatest riders, gained it’s fair to say a mixed reaction online.

There was wide praise for the legendary Joey Dunlop being voted the greatest TT rider of all time but there was also widespread critique on Guy Martin finishing eighth in the countdown in front of greats such as Bruce Anstey, Stanley Woods and Phillip McCallen.

Words by Stevie Rial

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