Competitors were met with considerably
different conditions for the third qualifying session
at the 2012 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster
Energy and although still dry, the temperature was down
on the previous two nights and there were also a lot
of grey clouds reported around the Mountain Course.
The action got underway shortly after the schduled
start at 6.31 and Guy Martin and James Hillier were
the first to set off down Glencrutchery Road, both on
their Superbikes, with Gary Johnson and Ryan Farquhar
behind them, Ian Mackman and Michael Dunlop, Ian Lougher
and Adrian Archibald, William Dunlop and Michael Rutter
and Ian Hutchinson and John Burrows the next pairs.
All were on their 1000cc machines with the exception
of Lougher and William Dunlop who were Supersport mounted.
Conor Cummins was also back out, this time on his Superbike
for the first time this week.
Despite reports of low cloud over the Mountain, speeds
were unaffected and Martin continued to lead on the
road with an opening lap of 128.448mph with Hillier
crossing the line soon after at 127.811mph, his best
ever lap around the Mountain Course. Johnson was next
at 127.287mph with Anstey the quickest Superstock bike
at over 126mph. John McGuinness was quickest through
the Sulby speed trap at 190.1mph, posting a lap of 127.919mph
but Cameron Donald who was quickest at 129.075mph with
William Dunlop the fastest 600cc rider at 124.711mph.
Johnson, Farquhar, Donald and Dan Stewart pulled in
to make adjustments as the newcomers continued to impress,
notably Jamie Hamilton (118.563), Lee Johnston (116.57),
Jimmy Storrar (116.55) and Karl Harris (115.820). Alessio
Corradi and Daniel Hegarty recorded their first ever
120mph laps but Roger Maher was an early retirement
at Sky Hill whilst Paul Owen had stopped to make adjustments
at Kerromoar.
The majority of riders went straight through for a
second lap and Martin improved slightly to 128.866mph
although Hillier was slower at 127.165mph. Michael Dunlop
improved his pace to 127.546mph and McGuinness was the
first to break the 130mph barrier this week at 130.079mph
despite later saying he'd lost a few seconds passing
other riders. Ian Hutchinson posted 126.760mph whilst
Stewart and Simon Andrews were also going well on their
Superbikes at 127.453mph and 127.376mph.
Meanwhile, William Dunlop was flying on the 600cc bike
with a lap of 126.184mph as Storrar and Johnston improved
to 117.731mph and 117.527mph. But Donald's second lap
ended at Windy Corner with Ian Lougher stopping at the
Bungalow.
With a full session, riders took full advantage and
were in and out on all their machines but as the night
wore on, traffic became more of a problem and so lap
times were down although Anstey put in a late flyer
on his Superbike at 129.566mph. Australian ace David
Johnson was also quick in the Superstock class at 124.648mph
as fellow countryman Donald made his way back to the
pits and returned to the fray with his Superstock mount.
Ian Mackman was back out on the Norton as well, posting
an almost identical time to Tuesday with a speed of
112.48mph.
Unfortunately though, the mist began to roll in through
the Douglas area as the session draw to a close and
that resulted in the cancellation of the F2 Sidecar
practice.
George Spence (Guthries), Herve Gantner (Joey's) and
Steve Mercer (Ballaugh) were all reported as coming
off their machines. Spence was seen by a TM who reported
him OK while Gantner was transferred to Nobles with
a leg injury and Mercer was seen by a medic for a hand
injury.
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