By To the relief of everyone involved with the TT Races, competitive action on the fabled, mythical Mountain Course returned this afternoon.
Getting underway one hour and a half behind schedule at 3:00 PM, due to the pesky mist on the Mountain, the Superbike class pace despite various damp patches, strong gusts of wind, was highly accomplished and ultra rapid.
Making the most of the track time available, Milenco by Padgetts Conor Cummins powered to the top of the premier class times sheet, securing a best lap speed of 128.92 mph.
Photo by Mark Corlett
As on Tuesday evening, the ‘Ramsey Rocket’ was quickly on the pace, and looks in an excellent frame of mind heading into tomorrow’s RST Superbike race.
Fellow pre Superbike race favourite Dean Harrison (128.29), joined Cummins in topping this afternoon the 128 mph lap mark, finishing just over five seconds behind the pace shown by the Ulster GP Superbike qualifying lap record holder.
Honda Racing’s David Johnson (128.236) was third fastest, Michael Rutter (127.55) and the exotic, great sounding Bathams-Aspire Ho supported RC213V-S Honda finished fourth quickest, whilst lead Yamaha runner, fifth fastest PreZ Racing’s Jamie Coward (127.22) also enjoyed a very productive practice session.
North West ‘Man of The Meeting’ James Hillier (125.36) finished sixth fastest, whilst reigning Pokerstars Senior TT champion Peter Hickman, standing start lap speed of 125.04 placed him 7th on the timing screens.
PRL Racing’s Sam West (124.96) finished eighth quickest, just in front of notable event returnee John McGuinness (124.72).
Jockeying the chrome liveried SG8 Norton, the 23 times TT winer stated via Manx Radio that the course conditions for practice today were the worst he has competed in, in his 20 plus years of racing around the legendary Mountain Course.
Rounding out the twelve quickest Superbike competitors this afternoon, were On 1 Racing’s Brian McCormack (124.33), Market Rasen’s Phil Crowe (124.31) and Daley Mathison (124.220).
Outside this afternoon’s ten quickest Superbike exponents, others to quietly impress included Italian star Stefano Bonetti (123.48), Paul Jordan (122.47), Buildbase Suzuki’s Jay Lawrence (122.47) and Davies Motorsport’s Dominic Herbertson (121.50).
Tyco BMW’s Michael Dunlop ended Sunday afternoon practice with no lap mileage banked, as the 18 times TT winner retired early in the session at the Mountain section of the TT course.
Practice results in full, are as follows:
1 Conor Cummins 128.923
2 Dean Harrison 128.292
3 David Johnson 128.236
4 Michael Rutter 127.547
5 Jamie Coward 127.215
6 James Hillier 125.358
7 Peter Hickman 125.043
8 Sam West 124.961
9 John McGuinness 124.717
10 Brian McCormack 124.331
11 Phil Crowe 124.307
12 Daley Mathison 124.220
13 Gary Johnson 123.750
14 Stefano Bonetti 123.482
15 Derek Sheils 123.098
16 Paul Jordan 122.839
17 Jay Lawrence 122.472
18 Shaun Anderson 122.352
19 Lee Johnston 122.272
20 Ian Hutchinson 121.953
21 Dominic Herbertson 121.503
22 Horst Saiger 120.701
23 Michael Sweeney 120.622
24 Forest Dunn 120.073
25 Dan Cooper 119.986
26 Barry Evans 119.823
27 Michael Booth 119.395
28 Xavier Denis 119.363
29 Michael Russell 118.898
30 Rob Hodson 118.849
31 Frank Gallagher 118.823
32 Joe Akroyd 118.626
33 Marc Ironside 118.463
34 David Jackson 118.414
35 Davy Morgan 118.197
36 Ryan Kneen 118.010
37 Mark Parrett 117.953
38 Richard Wilson 117.698
39 Morgan Govignon 117.698
40 Richard Charlton 117.450
41 Jim Hodson 117.348
42 Julian Trummer 117.345
43 Matt Stevenson 117.289
44 Lukas Maurer 117.13
45 Mark Goodings 116.998
46 James Chawke 116.907
47 Barry Furber 116.867
48 Raul Torras Martinez 116.641
49 Anthony Redmond 116.568
50 Rhys Hardisty 116.163
51 Dean Osborne 115.850
52 Jonathan Perry 115.519
53 Adrian Harrison 115.301
54 Paul Williams 115.013
55 George Spence 114.805
56 Josh Daley 114.725
57 Thomas Maxwell 113.953
58 Dave Hewson 113.853
59 Timothee Monot 113.309
Words by Stevie Rial
