Author: Oli Rushby Posted: 27 Aug 2015
This year’s Classic TT riders enjoyed their first full qualifying session this evening as the Mountain Course bathed in sunlight, a stark contrast to the weather conditions that saw the last three days practice either cancelled or cut short.
The F1/F2 and 500cc classes were first out and it was Michael Dunlop who led the way on his Team Classic Suzuki. He blasted to a lap of 122.96mph from a standing start, which ended up being the fastest lap of the night and the first 120+mph lap of the festival.
He wasn’t alone in the 122 club though, with Ryan Farquhar setting a lap of 122.134mph aboard the Team Winfield Harris Yamaha.
The next nine riders all lapped in excess of 117mph, finally getting the chance to put their F1 machines properly through their paces. The top ten includes names like James Hillier, Ivan Lintin and David Johnson.
Bruce Anstey’s chance of posting a fast lap was curtailed as the stunning Padgetts YZR500 broke down at Sulby on the second lap.
Bennetts-backed John McGuinness set the fastest 500cc time with a sub 21 minute lap (110.634mph), with the Morecambe Missile looking to add a Classic TT victory to his impressive mountain course CV.
Pocket-sized Northern Irishman Lee Johnston was fastest in the 350cc class aboard the Black Eagle MV Agusta with a lap of 102.321mph.
Tomorrow’s session sees the 500’s out first at 18.20 with the F1 and F2 machines due to go out at 19.25 and the riders will be hoping for another clear session ahead of Saturday’s first race, the Bennetts 500cc.
Formula 1
500cc
350cc
or !