Michael Dunlop records 120mph lap on Classic TT machine
Thursday 22 August: Michael Dunlop, who won four races at this year's TT Races, produced a sensational pair of laps in the first timed session in the inaugural Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.
The Ballymoney man clocked 119.511, which he followed up with a 120.894 (18:43.52) on his Team Classic Suzuki XR69.
Conditions were reported as dry all round but with high winds on the
mountain as race fans were treated to the stunning sight and evocative
sound of a pair of Patons leaving the line with Olie Linsdell and John
McGuinness first away.
However, TT and Classic TT rider liaison officer John Barton, who set
off ten seconds behind the pair, was first back to the Grandstand
on the Kawasaki ZXR that he'll campaign in Monday's Motorsport
Merchandise Formula 1 Race, posting a lap of 113.112mph (20:00.82).
Linsdell (111.285mph) and McGuinness (111.193) were both
approximately 20 seconds back on Barton on the opening lap with
Linsdell's time the fastest 500cc lap of the evening. Kiwi Bruce Anstey,
riding the McIntosh Racing/Mobil 1 Norton, was third fastest in the
500cc class (106.066) marginally ahead of Australian Cameron Donald, who
posted 105.949 on his second lap on the Ripley Land Racing Matchless
G50.
Mick Godfrey, riding a Ducati 888 Corsa went marginally quicker than
Barton on his second lap with the fastest lap of the dedicated Classic
session with 113.2125 (19:59.76). However Dunlop's laps in the Manx
Grand Prix session, with Formula 1 machines allowed out with the modern
machines, were notably quicker. Conor Cummins also took advantage of the
opportunity to take his Team Classic Suzuki Formula 1 machine out in
the later session clocking an impressive 113.123.
Other notable laps in the Formula 1 Classic session included Nick
Jefferies' 108.844 - 20:47.91 - on his Honda RC30- his first timed lap
since the 2002 TT Races finishing marginally behind fastest American at
the TT Mark Miller (108.952mph) representing the Yamaha Classic Racing
Team on an FZ750 OU45. Jamie Coward (116.549), Steve Mercer (115.856),
Paul Owen 113.705), and Gary Johnson (109.850) also went out on their
Formula 1 machines in the later MGP session and posted fast times to
signal their intent.
In the Formula 2 Class Chris Moore on the Yamaha TZ250 was the
quickest with a 106.124 lap, ahead of James Cowton's 105.574 while in
the Formula Classic Mark Parrett topped the board with 104.586 from
Gavin Lupton, riding a '71 Triumph Trident, with 100.280. Chris McGahan
and late entry Dean Harrison, who achieved his first podium at this
year's TT in the Lightweight Race, posted the third and fourth fastest
times of the class respectively.
In the Okells 350cc Class experienced campaigner Chris Palmer was
quickest on the night on the Honda Drixon (100.495) while ex British
125cc Champion Dan Cooper was also up to speed on the Molnar Manx Norton
(97.831). In the 250cc class Peter Symes and Dave Edwards topped the
board with the pair posting the four fastest times between them.
Results: Wednesday 21st practice and qualifying session - this morning NZ time.
500cc Practice results
350cc Practice results
250cc Practice results
F1 Practice results
F2 Practice results
Formula Classic Practice results
Photos:
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