By After one of the most frustrating, protracted practice week’s of modern times, you can fully understand as to why various teams, riders are beginning to get more than a touch frustrated ahead of today’s proposed afternoon, evening practice sessions.
Thus far during TT 2019 practice week, there has only been one practice session for Superbike, Superstock class competitors, same notion applies to the Sidecar entrants and Lightweight class entrants. Whilst TT Zero exponents have had to date, no track time at all!
In amongst the frustrations, there has still been a steady run of intriguing news emerging the TT paddock, which includes Mike Norbury joining forces with Darren Cooper’s Team DCR, to pilot like the Preston racer a pretty much identical ER6 Kawasaki in next week’s four lap Bennetts Lightweight race.
With Michael Evans side-lined following an incident at the Pre TT Classic Road Races, Wilcock Consulting team’s Monster Energy Supersport challenge will now be led by former Super Twins Manx GP rostrum finisher Jonathan Perry.
There’s been some pretty big rule changes to the Superstock class for TT 2019, with competitors 100 percent having to adhere to using stock, standard engines, rear wheel changes that take place when it’s pit stop time, at mid race distance, have also been outlawed.
McAdoo Kawasaki’s Adam McLean ruled out of TT 2019 competition, having sustained injuries from an incident in the Super Twins race at the Around A Pound Tandragee 100, is hoping to return to Manx shores in August, for the Classic TT Races, which last year saw him finish runner up in a close fought Lightweight race.
Stats:
TAS Racing’s present TT winning record stands at an ultra impressive 18, the same total of wins achieved by their lead rider, Mountain Course maestro Michael Dunlop.
It’s thirty years since multi times British Superbike Champion John Reynolds first tackled the TT Races, with his maiden event stint in 1989 proving his first and last venture into competition around the fabled, mythical Mountain Course.
Saturday Practices Update:
Unfortunately more rain, mist, low cloud, fog you name it has descended upon the Isle of Man today, and due to this there is a one hour delay to this afternoon’s scheduled practice action.
The present proposed schedule for practice sessions today, is as follows:
11:15 AM Mountain section of the TT course closes
12:00 PM Remainder of the TT course closes
12:40 PM Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers practice
2:10 PM Sidecars practice
3:15 PM Supersport/Lightweight/Newcomers practice
4:45 PM Sidecars practice
5:10 PM Superbike/Superstock practice – 1 Lap
5:30 PM TT Zero practice – 1 Lap
6:30 PM Roads open around the TT course, except the Mountain section
7:30 PM All roads open around the TT course
Stop press: A further 30 minute to this afternoon’s competition, has been announced.
Words by Stevie Rial
