By There was a sense of anticipation in spades this evening amongst the Superbike field, with competitors eager to gain more track-time ahead of tomorrow’s opening race-day.
Despite damp patches located around the 37 and three-quarter miles Mountain Course, the pace was still other worldly.
Laying down a marker for Saturday’s RST Superbike race, Gas Monkey Garage by FHO Racing’s Peter Hickman chalked up 131, 132 mph laps.
His flying lap speed of 132.88 mph, almost yielded him a second successive practice session, lapping sub 17 minutes.
Quickest in the Super Twins, Supersport, Superstock categories, Michael Dunlop took the Hawk Racing Suzuki to P2 on the times sheet, lapping at 129.346 mph.
Third, fourth fastest behind 19 times TT winner Dunlop were good friends Dean Harrison (128.56) and Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston (128.503).
I think it’s fair to say though that for countless fans, road racing insiders the highlight in terms of Superbike action tonight was provided by Honda Racing’s Glenn Irwin.
The six times North West 200 winner’s second timed lap, saw him lap 128 mph plus!
Fifth fastest overall, Irwin (128.268) is looking good to surpass in style during race week, Peter Hickman’s record newcomers TT lap speed.
KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan’s Jamie Coward (127.546), James Hillier (127.449), Conor Cummins (126.785) respectively were sixth, seventh, eighth quickest.
Whilst ninth fastest Davey Todd, had quite the intriguing evening on Manx shores.
During the earlier Supersport/Super Twins session, Todd’s Supersport steed expired big time on the approach to the Mountain Mile.
He then had to make the most of his diverse two-wheel racing skillset to get back to the paddock in time, for Superbike practice.
In the end he did manage to gain some track time, registering a lap speed of 126.022 mph.
Rounding out this evening’s ten quickest Superbike pilots was Milwaukee BMW Motorrad’s Ian Hutchinson (125.934).
I’d be remiss not to showcase Michael Browne as well, who set a new unofficial personal best TT lap speed of 125.54 mph, impressive pace given the difficulties he has endured in the run-up to TT 2022.
TT 2022 – Friday evening Superbike practice result:
1st – Peter Hickman – 132.876
2nd – Michael Dunlop – 129.346
3rd – Dean Harrison – 128.56
4th – Lee Johnston – 128.503
5th – Glenn Irwin – 128.268
6th – Jamie Coward – 127.546
7th – James Hillier – 127.449
8th – Conor Cummins – 126.785
9th – Davey Todd – 126.022
10th – Ian Hutchinson – 125.934
11th – Michael Browne – 125.54
12th – Shaun Anderson – 125.502
13th – Dominic Herbertson – 125.179
14th – Paul Jordan – 124.812
15th – Craig Neve – 124.583
16th – Derek Sheils – 124.438
17th – Phil Crowe – 124.384
18th – Michael Sweeney – 124.382
19th – Nathan Harrison – 124.313
20th – John McGuinness MBE – 124.161
21st – Rob Hodson – 123.576
22nd – Julian Trummer – 122.437
23rd – David Jackson – 121.876
24th – Jim Hind – 121.430
25th – Milo Ward – 121.162
26th – Sam West – 121.038
27th – Michael Russell – 120.607
28th – Richard Wilson – 120.606
29th – Mark Parrett – 120.476
30th – Michael Rutter – 120.270
31st – Josh Daley – 120.152
32nd – Xavier Denis – 119.684
33rd – Thomas Maxwell – 119.516
34th – Michael Evans – 119.506
35th – Mike Norbury – 119.296
36th – Davy Morgan – 119.253
37th – Mark Goodings – 118.984
38th – Raul Torras Martinez – 118.820
39th – Forest Dunn – 118.809
40th – Lukas Maurer – 118.761
41st – Joey Thompson – 118.450
42nd – Tom Weeden – 118.319
43rd – Julien Toniutti – 118.251
44th – Stefano Bonetti – 118.197
45th – Gary Johnson – 117.966
46th – James Chawke – 117.862
47th – Barry Furber – 117.473
48th – Jonathan Perry – 117.320
49th – Timothee Monot – 116.847
50th – Rhys Hardisty – 116.056
51st – Ilja Caljouw – 114.219
52nd – Brian McCormack – 113.752
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
