The weather was cool, there was stiff north-westerly wind and cloud overhead as the roads closed on the Mountain Course. We were treated to a day of frenetic action at TT2024 that saw some amazing speeds being set; with Peter Hickman setting the best lap of the week in the evening session at 134.638mph on his Superstock machine.
The Clerk of the Course took the option to use the contingency (evening) session due to the loss of two sessions earlier in the week. Milntown was the chosen location for the afternoon session. Here the bikes approach flat out from the S-bend at Pinfold Cottage. The fast riders become airborne before sweeping right, tight to the wall of Milntown House; the ancestral home of the Christian family (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame). You can feel the draft of the machines on either side of the track; for those who watch online; you are missing out on the thrill of being close to some incredible action.
For once, the sidecars had first use of the famous course. Ben Birchall / Kevin Rousseau were first to reach us; they set the best time to Ramsey; but then had an off at the Mountain Box (East Mountain Gate for purists). They are okay; Ben is confident of having the outfit good to go tomorrow. The yellow flags shown meant that first lap speeds were down for the other teams. The field streamed through Milntown in fine style; with Dave Molyneux / Jake Roberts giving a standout performance. Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement continue to impress; they set a new best at 112.991mph on their second lap. On that second lap Alan Founds /Rhys Gibbons retired the outfit at Milntown. At the end of the session the Crowe bothers led the way with a superb 119.191mph lap; Peter Founds / Jevan Walmsley were second at 115.885mph with Tim Reeves / Mark Wilkes third at 115.260mph.
Next it was the turn of the Superstock and Superbikes; the session was led away by Dean Harrison and Jamie Coward. The action was superb at Milntown as the machines powered past at 150mph. The speeds on track were mind blowing; Davey Todd lapped at 133.942mph; Peter Hickman at 133.851mph and Dean Harrison made a quantum leap on the Honda to record 132.143mph. Michael Dunlop chose his Superstock and set a speed of 132.135mph. He then did two laps on his Superbike; the best of which was 132.728mph. Dean Harrison did the reverse and set his best Superstock of the week at 131.293mph. There were no moments at Milntown, but we did have a yellow flag due to a minor spill at Schoolhouse, 600m down the road.
The Supersports and Supertwins closed the session; led away by the impressive Jim Hind on his Supersport Suzuki. Once again, excellent action was seen at Milntown as the riders hustled their mounts between the walls. Hind was first to reach us and kept ahead of the pack to set an opening lap at 124.349mph. He ended the session in 9th. Class master Michael Dunlop led the way at 127.649mph from Jamie Coward at 127.210mph and Davey Todd on the gorgeous looking and sounding Ducati Panagale at 126.450.
Mark Herbertson put down a marker in the Supertwins with a first lap at 119.544mph; he then broke the 120mph barrier at 120.036mph. Late in the session Peter Hickman went out on the Swan Yamaha and set the best lap at 120.885mph; with Todd grabbing third at 119.259mph on his Kawasaki. This is the class with most variety of machinery and it should give very close racing.
The evening gave us bright sunshine; a much lighter breeze and it felt warmer. The 20 miles marker at Sulby Bridge was the vantage point for another busy session. The action was good; but not as mind blowing as at Milntown. The riders take the fairly tight right hand bend on the bridge then open the taps and head for the tricky rising left hand bend at the famous Ginger Hall hotel and on towards Kerrowmoar.
Dean Harrison was first to reach us on his Superbike. He was followed by Peter Hickman, Jamie Coward, James Hillier, Ian Hutchinson and Josh Brookes; all on Superstock apart from Brookes. Michael Dunlop was next on his Superbike; then Davo Johnson and a rejuvenated John McGuinness. All were neat and fast over the bridge. The second lap also gave good action for the far from record crowds gathered at the trackside. Peter Hickman showed that he will be the man to beat by setting the best lap thus far to take top spot in the Superstocks with that 134.638mph lap. Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop both lapped at over 132mph to take second and third. Hillier and Coward lapped at over 130mph. Nathan Harrison was best of the local riders in 10th, at over 128mph.
Hickman was not finished; he went out on his Superbike and topped that chart at 132.863mph. Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop were also over 132mph. Josh Brookes lapped at over 131mph, and the great John McGuinness posted a 130mph lap.
The smaller bikes were next out giving some fine action and interesting engines notes, especially from the Supertwins. Davey Tood led the way in the Supersports from James Hind and local star Mikey Evans. Michael Dunlop put in two rapid laps on his Paton to lead the Supertwins at 121.882mph. Jamie Coward lapped at over 120mph; Peter Hickman was third at over 119mph. After a lengthy absence Adam McLean is picking up his pace; he was 7th on his Yamaha. The Sidecars closed the session; but it was very much a case of bed new parts in; in readiness for the first race.
After more big bike practice; Saturday will have the Arai Parade Lap; then the first Supersport Race and will close with Sidecar Race 1; where we could have a local win.
