4th Practice
Session
Thursday 31st May 2007
The leading contenders for Saturday’s
Superbike race continue to make their mark in the Bennetts
TT practice sessions as records tumbled in near perfect
conditions. A packed grandstand was bathed in sunshine
as blistering times were posted on the track.
John McGuinness dominated the session and confirmed
that he will again be the man to beat in Saturday’s
Superbike race. His second lap of 129.084 was confirmed
as a record practice lap time and he was only fractionally
outside his outright lap record of 129.45mph set at
last year’s Senior TT.
After a fifteen minute hold up at the beginning of
the session, caused by road traffic accidents outside
the course, Adrian Archibald and Michael Rutter were
first off but it was Ian Hutchinson who served notice
that he was coming into form with a 127.48mph lap, the
fastest first lap. However, John McGuinness then replied
with his sensational practice lap record. Guy Martin
served notice that McGuinness wouldn’t have things
all his own way with a fastest lap of 128.166 while
Ian Lougher and Martin Finnegan also featured in the
top five times of the night.
Michael Rutter on the Isilion MSS Discovery Kawasaki
had clutch problems on his first lap but his team rallied
round and he was able to finish the session in a credible
seventh with a time of 125.003.
Bruce Anstey continues to dominate the Superstock and
Supersport classes with the fastest time in both classes
on the night. His 125.120mph in the Superstock’s
saw him finish ahead of John McGuinness (124.295mph)
and he also finished top of the pile in the Supersport
class with a 122.619mph which put him ahead of the impressive
Guy Martin (122.229mph).
In the sidecars Dave Molyneux was finally able to put
his problems behind him and he got valuable track time
with a couple of quick laps including 111.874mph on
his second lap but he was again forced to play second
fiddle to the week’s leading pair Nick Crowe/Dan
Sayle who clocked the night’s fastest time –
114.125mph.
James Coward was reported to have lower leg fractures
after an accident at Crookshanks.
A total of 250 machines went through scrutineering.
1 Senior, 75 Superbikes, 33 Superstock, 74 Supersport
and 67 Sidecars.
[
FULL
PRACTICE TIMES HERE ]
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