Conditions around the course for the
5th practice of the 2010 Manx Grand Prix, sponsored
by visitisleofman.com, were described as ‘perfect
and dry throughout with light winds’ by Clerk
of the Course Phil Taubman, although he warned riders
of sunlight dazzle between Union Mills and Ballacraine
and also at the exit of the Gooseneck. And Michael Dunlop
took advantage of the conditions to post another unofficial
lap record for the Post Classic class with 117.927mph,
exceeding the mark he established the previous night
and well inside Ryan Farquhar’s time from last
year’s event.
The Senior, Junior, Lightweight and Newcomers A Groups
had first use of the mountain course and the yellow
plated Junior riders Dave Moffitt and Mike Sweeney were
first away at 6.23pm, shortly after the scheduled start.
Wayne Kirwan was first to Glen Helen with fastest man
in practice to date Simon Fulton close behind and Ivan
Lintin the fastest Senior to the first checkpoint. Michael
Sweeney was first back to the Grandstand with a lap
of 117.230, a time that was quickly exceeded by Wayne
Kirwan who clocked the fastest time of the week to date
with 117.999 and Ivan Lintin with 117.570 on his Senior
machine, a Suzuki GSXR 750cc. Sweeney then bettered
the week’s fastest time with a lap of 119.051
on his second lap, his fastest ever lap around the mountain
course. Andy Fenton also clocked his fastest time of
the week in the Newcomers A with 114.090.
Dan Sayle posted a lap of 118.254 on his Junior machine,
his fastest around the mountain course, and just managed
to get out in time on his 2004 Honda RS 250 Lightweight
machine before the session was flagged at 7.00pm, eventually
clocking 114.776, again the fastest time of the Lightweight
session and only .32 seconds outside Richard Quayle’s
19 minute 43.10 sec MPG lap record from 1999, confirming
his position as favourite for next Friday’s race.
Olie Linsdell started the second session for Senior
Classic, Post Classic, Ultra Lightweight and Newcomers
B with the distinctive roar of the Paton with Meredyyd
Owen on a Seeley alongside him and Linsdell was first
to Glen Helen ahead of Alan Oversby on an MV and Mark
Parrett riding a 62 Matchless. Linsdell eventually recorded
110.938mph in the Senior Classic (500cc) session with
Oversby almost a minute behind at 106.539mph and Watty
Brown third on the night on a 1970 Manx Petty with 102.218mph.
Linsdell came in and made adjustments to the Paton before
heading out again and clocking 111.830 on his second
lap but it was Michael Dunlop riding the Suzuki XR69
in the Post Classic class who set the session alight
with an unofficial lap record of 116.54 on the opening
practice lap which he surpassed on his second lap.
In the Senior Classic 750cc experienced campaigner
David Madsen-Mygdal, who first competed on the Isle
of Man in the 1982 Manx Grand Prix, topped the practice
leader board on his Triumph RO6 North with 95.849.
In the Junior Post Classic Barry Davidson on a Yamaha
TZB 3YL 249cc machine recorded an opening lap of 105.685,
a time later bettered by Chris Palmer (110.384) on the
1991 Yamaha TZV 250 twin and Ewan Hamilton (106.375)
on a ’90 Yamaha TZA 249cc, both inside the lap
record, while Roy Richardson on a 1969 Aermacchi clocked
102.014 to head the Junior Classic class on the night
from Chris Palmer (97.480) on the 62 AJS.
A host of laps inside Keith Taylor’s 2003 lap
record were posted in the Ultra Lightweight Class with
Dave Moffitt posting an unofficial fastest of 112.052.
Phil McGurk and Joe Phillips also bettered the 2003
benchmark. Lee Darbyshire again topped the Newcomers
B practice leader board with 104.965. |
