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Brilliant, incredible, spot on are ways in which to describe the current weather descending upon Manx shores, which continued for tonight’s solo qualifying stint.
As on Wednesday night, timed competition commenced on schedule at 6:30 PM.
First racers away were LAMI OMG Racing’s James Hillier (Superstock) and outright lap record holder Peter Hickman (Superbike).
There was early disappointment for twice TT Privateers Champion Jamie Coward, who stopped at Sarah’s Cottage.
Not long after SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson, was another confirmed retirement.
Second off down Bray Hill, Monster Energy by FHO Racing’s Hickman turbocharged his way from a standing start, to a record-breaking TT practice week lap speed of 133.797 mph.
A shade under five seconds behind Hickman’s standing start lap was Michael Dunlop (133.191).
Davey Todd went 131 mph plus whilst DAO Racing’s Dean Harrison led the Superstock 1000 times (131.277 mph – 17:14.664 seconds).
Inside the existing Superbike lap record on route to Glen Helen, the ever chilled out Hickman looked in blistering form across his second timed lap.
By the Bungalow, the twice Senior TT winner had dropped his pace a touch.
None the less, come the lap’s conclusion, he recorded another 133-mph lap, (133.553).
Fellow TT alumni, Superstock powered Harrison (132.7) neared the 133-mph mark.
His role as stock 1000 pace setter didn’t last for long though with 21 times TT Champion Dunlop emerging just 0.215 quicker (17:03.356 seconds – 132.728 mph).
Dunlop then set sights on Superbike Q3 success, could he surpass Hickman’s practice week topping 133.797 mph.
He couldn’t quite achieve this, finishing just 0.162 in arrears, lapping at 133.775 mph, joining Hickman in overhauling the previous TT practice week lap record.
Others looking in great fettle included Michael Browne aboard the Superstock spec BE/RK Racing BMW (129.104), who unofficially became the Republic of Ireland’s fastest TT competitor of all time.
DP Coldplaning/TC Racing’s Stephen Smith (125.555), Pierre Yves Bian (121.65), newcomers Ryan Cringle (121.48), Matthieu Lagrive (119.167), Erno Kostamo (117.463), Jorge Halliday (112.932), Jack Petrie (112.568) all attained unofficial PB’s.
Near the sessions’ conclusion, Dunlop set the fastest Supersport time thus far of TT 2023 (17:44.844 seconds – 127.557 mph).
Second best to ‘Maverick’ in terms of Supersport pilots via his only timed lap this evening, was Jamie Coward (124.675).
Jim Hind (124.553) impressed in finishing third quickest as James Hillier (122.726), Harrison (122.518), Immingham’s Craig Neve (122.036) wrapped up Thursday’s Supersport elite six.
TT 2023 – Thursday Qualifying Results:
(PB lap speed located near racer’s name)
Superbike:
1 – Peter Hickman – 133.797
2 – Michael Dunlop – 133.775
3 – Dean Harrison – 132.921
4 – Davey Todd – 131.561
5 – Josh Brookes – 129.833
6 – James Hillier – 129.21
7 – Michael Rutter – 128.86
8 – Phil Crowe – 128.822
9 – John McGuinness MBE – 128.724
10 – David Johnson – 128.392
11 – Brian McCormack – 126.965
12 – Shaun Anderson – 126.052
13 – Julian Trummer – 125.902
14 – Dominic Herbertson – 125.862
15 – Craig Neve – 125.736
16 – Stephen Smith – 125.555
17 – Michael Browne – 125.511
18 – Michael Evans – 125.194
19 – Sam West – 125.099
20 – Raul Torras Martinez – 123.984
21 – Jim Hind – 123.91
22 – Stefano Bonetti – 123.348
23 – Mark Parrett – 122.935
24 – Forest Dunn – 122.234
25 – Mark Goodings – 121.563
26 – Ryan Cringle – 121.48
27 – Rhys Hardisty – 121.445
28 – Anthony Redmond – 120.626
29 – Dave Hewson – 120.447
30 – James Chawke – 120.444
31 – Barry Furber – 120.17
32 – Michael Russell – 120.108
33 – Timothee Monot – 119.809
34 – Matthieu Lagrive – 119.167
35 – Jonathan Perry – 118.317
36 – AJ Venter – 118.265
37 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 118.117
38 – Erno Kostamo – 115.536
39 – Xavier Denis – 115.355
40 – Amalric Blanc – 113.069
Superstock:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 132.728
2 – Dean Harrison – 132.7
3 – Peter Hickman – 131.952
4 – James Hillier – 130.195
5 – Michael Browne – 129.104
6 – John McGuinness MBE – 128.821
7 – David Johnson – 127.465
8 – Brian McCormack – 126.696
9 – Phil Crowe – 126.636
10 – Michael Rutter – 126.109
11 – Craig Neve – 126.097
12 – Julian Trummer – 125.902
13 – Dominic Herbertson – 125.862
14 – Stephen Smith – 125.555
15 – Michael Evans – 125.194
16 – Sam West – 125.099
17 – Raul Torras Martinez – 123.984
18 – Jim Hind – 123.91
19 – Stefano Bonetti – 123.348
20 – Mark Parrett – 122.935
Supersport:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 127.557
2 – Jamie Coward – 124.675
3 – Jim Hind – 124.553
4 – James Hillier – 122.726
5 – Dean Harrison – 122.518
6 – Craig Neve – 122.036
7 – Michael Evans – 121.826
8 – Pierre Yves Bian – 121.65
9 – Rob Hodson – 121.361
10 – Joey Thompson – 121.086
11 – Shaun Anderson – 120.651
12 – Raul Torras Martinez – 120.431
13 – Michal Dokoupil – 120.323
14 – Tom Weeden – 119.004
15 – Stefano Bonetti – 118.959
16 – Brian McCormack – 118.448
17 – Rhys Hardisty – 118.421
18 – Jonathan Goetschy – 118.186
19 – Amalric Blanc – 117.685
20 – Forest Dunn – 117.595
21 – Barry Furber – 117.478
22 – James Chawke – 117.389
23 – Stephen Parsons – 117.19
24 – Mark Goodings – 116.912
25 – Jamie Cringle – 116.843
26 – Gary Vines – 116.778
27 – AJ Venter – 116.563
28 – Timothee Monot – 116.16
29 – Mark Parrett – 115.799
30 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 115.455
31 – Michael Russell – 114.79
32 – Martin Morris – 114.62
33 – Paul Cassidy – 113.088
34 – Jorge Halliday – 112.932
35 – David Brook – 112.722
36 – Jack Petrie – 112.568
37 – Masayuki Yamanaka – 112.301
38 – Xavier Denis – 111.449
39 – Craig Szczypek – 111.237
40 – Jonathan Perry – 111.083
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler, Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
His role as stock 1000 pace setter didn’t last for long though with 21 times TT Champion Dunlop emerging just 0.215 quicker (17:03.356 seconds – 132.728 mph).
Dunlop then set sights on Superbike Q3 success, could he surpass Hickman’s practice week topping 133.797 mph.
He couldn’t quite achieve this, finishing just 0.162 in arrears, lapping at 133.775 mph, joining Hickman in overhauling the previous TT practice week lap record.
Others looking in great fettle included Michael Browne aboard the Superstock spec BE/RK Racing BMW (129.104), who unofficially became the Republic of Ireland’s fastest TT competitor of all time.
DP Coldplaning/TC Racing’s Stephen Smith (125.555), Pierre Yves Bian (121.65), newcomers Ryan Cringle (121.48), Matthieu Lagrive (119.167), Erno Kostamo (117.463), Jorge Halliday (112.932), Jack Petrie (112.568) all attained unofficial PB’s.
Near the sessions’ conclusion, Dunlop set the fastest Supersport time thus far of TT 2023 (17:44.844 seconds – 127.557 mph).
Second best to ‘Maverick’ in terms of Supersport pilots via his only timed lap this evening, was Jamie Coward (124.675).
Jim Hind (124.553) impressed in finishing third quickest as James Hillier (122.726), Harrison (122.518), Immingham’s Craig Neve (122.036) wrapped up Thursday’s Supersport elite six.
TT 2023 – Thursday Qualifying Results:
(PB lap speed located near racer’s name)
Superbike:
1 – Peter Hickman – 133.797
2 – Michael Dunlop – 133.775
3 – Dean Harrison – 132.921
4 – Davey Todd – 131.561
5 – Josh Brookes – 129.833
6 – James Hillier – 129.21
7 – Michael Rutter – 128.86
8 – Phil Crowe – 128.822
9 – John McGuinness MBE – 128.724
10 – David Johnson – 128.392
11 – Brian McCormack – 126.965
12 – Shaun Anderson – 126.052
13 – Julian Trummer – 125.902
14 – Dominic Herbertson – 125.862
15 – Craig Neve – 125.736
16 – Stephen Smith – 125.555
17 – Michael Browne – 125.511
18 – Michael Evans – 125.194
19 – Sam West – 125.099
20 – Raul Torras Martinez – 123.984
21 – Jim Hind – 123.91
22 – Stefano Bonetti – 123.348
23 – Mark Parrett – 122.935
24 – Forest Dunn – 122.234
25 – Mark Goodings – 121.563
26 – Ryan Cringle – 121.48
27 – Rhys Hardisty – 121.445
28 – Anthony Redmond – 120.626
29 – Dave Hewson – 120.447
30 – James Chawke – 120.444
31 – Barry Furber – 120.17
32 – Michael Russell – 120.108
33 – Timothee Monot – 119.809
34 – Matthieu Lagrive – 119.167
35 – Jonathan Perry – 118.317
36 – AJ Venter – 118.265
37 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 118.117
38 – Erno Kostamo – 115.536
39 – Xavier Denis – 115.355
40 – Amalric Blanc – 113.069
Superstock:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 132.728
2 – Dean Harrison – 132.7
3 – Peter Hickman – 131.952
4 – James Hillier – 130.195
5 – Michael Browne – 129.104
6 – John McGuinness MBE – 128.821
7 – David Johnson – 127.465
8 – Brian McCormack – 126.696
9 – Phil Crowe – 126.636
10 – Michael Rutter – 126.109
11 – Craig Neve – 126.097
12 – Julian Trummer – 125.902
13 – Dominic Herbertson – 125.862
14 – Stephen Smith – 125.555
15 – Michael Evans – 125.194
16 – Sam West – 125.099
17 – Raul Torras Martinez – 123.984
18 – Jim Hind – 123.91
19 – Stefano Bonetti – 123.348
20 – Mark Parrett – 122.935
Supersport:
1 – Michael Dunlop – 127.557
2 – Jamie Coward – 124.675
3 – Jim Hind – 124.553
4 – James Hillier – 122.726
5 – Dean Harrison – 122.518
6 – Craig Neve – 122.036
7 – Michael Evans – 121.826
8 – Pierre Yves Bian – 121.65
9 – Rob Hodson – 121.361
10 – Joey Thompson – 121.086
11 – Shaun Anderson – 120.651
12 – Raul Torras Martinez – 120.431
13 – Michal Dokoupil – 120.323
14 – Tom Weeden – 119.004
15 – Stefano Bonetti – 118.959
16 – Brian McCormack – 118.448
17 – Rhys Hardisty – 118.421
18 – Jonathan Goetschy – 118.186
19 – Amalric Blanc – 117.685
20 – Forest Dunn – 117.595
21 – Barry Furber – 117.478
22 – James Chawke – 117.389
23 – Stephen Parsons – 117.19
24 – Mark Goodings – 116.912
25 – Jamie Cringle – 116.843
26 – Gary Vines – 116.778
27 – AJ Venter – 116.563
28 – Timothee Monot – 116.16
29 – Mark Parrett – 115.799
30 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 115.455
31 – Michael Russell – 114.79
32 – Martin Morris – 114.62
33 – Paul Cassidy – 113.088
34 – Jorge Halliday – 112.932
35 – David Brook – 112.722
36 – Jack Petrie – 112.568
37 – Masayuki Yamanaka – 112.301
38 – Xavier Denis – 111.449
39 – Craig Szczypek – 111.237
40 – Jonathan Perry – 111.083
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler, Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou 
