IOM TT 2011 – Qualifying

Friday 3rd June 2011

At last! California type weather, beautiful, warm and sunny hit the Isle of Man today and meant conditions were perfect for the final practice session of the 2011 event and after the cancellation of the previous evenings solo session, it’s fair to say competitors were champing at the bit to finalize their preparations for the opening race day tomorrow.

After the problems the previous evening, the solos were granted a longer session and with 100 minutes of track time, everyone was looking to get in at least 5 laps with many of the front runners looking to capitalize on the extended session and complete 6.

However, a road traffic accident at Ginger Hall caused a near 25 minute delay and it wasn’t until 6.44pm that the action finally got underway and it was again Guy Martin on the Relentless by TAS Suzuki that led them away, Keith Amor alongside him on his 600 for the first time this week.

Johnson was the man setting the pace through the early sectors with John McGuinness close behind on time, less than half a second separating them at Ramsey whilst Martin, Cameron Donald and Dan Stewart were also going well. Dunlop was quickest through the speed trap at 195.6mph but Martin was the first to complete the lap at 128.693mph. Gary Johnson was next at 128.554mph followed by Farquhar at 125.728mph and Dunlop at 126.849mph but McGuinness and Stewart went quicker at 128.635mph and 127.682mph respectively. Anstey had a lowly though at 117.465mph having stopped at the Bungalow to make adjustments.

McGuinness was really flying on his second lap and went quickest at 130.615mph just over 4 seconds ahead of Martin on 130.075mph and Dunlop on 130.024mph. Michael Rutter was also pressing on with a lap of 128.261mph. Johnson, meanwhile, jumped on his 600, putting in a lap of 123.087mph. Also lapping at a good pace was Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Simon Fulton who posted a new personal best lap of 121.785mph.

Dunlop put in a lap in excess of 125mph on his Supersport machine with McGuinness slightly slower at 123.516mph whilst other newcomers shining were Simon Andrews on 121.039mph and Harrison, who improved to 118.479mph. Meanwhile, local star Dan Kneen put in his best lap of the week on his Kawasaki Superbike with a lap of 123.710mph with Anstey, Donald and Amor lapping in excess of 127mph also on their Superbikes. However, it was bad news for Farquhar who fell off his Superbike at Keppel Gate, fortunately without serious injury.

The best lap of the week though was saved right until the final moments of the final practice session when Anstey scorched round at a speed of 131.431mph, just shy of the outright lap record, to throw down the gauntlet to the rest of the opposition ahead of race week.

Wow!! It’s going to be an incredible race tomorrow, I can’t wait for all the action to start.

The island keeps filling up with more and more bikers, hundreds and hundreds riding off with each ferry that comes in and with the glorious weather that’s set in for the next few days, it looks like a brilliant days racing for tomorrow and for the TT fans on Mad Sunday.

Thursday 2nd June 2011

It has been a crazy evening practice and it resulted in no practice for the solos, only for the sidecars!

Such a shame as conditions were perfect all around the Mountain Course for tonight’s practice session but a road traffic incident at Ginger Hall caused a lengthy delay to proceedings. There was further confusion when the sidecars got underway at 7pm as John Holden/Andy Winkle and Klaus Klaffenbock/Daniel Sayle were released from the line prematurely and ultimately stopped at Ballacraine.

Finally at 7.07pm they were allowed on their way again as Tim Reeves/Gregory Cluze and Conrad Harrison/Mike Aylott set off down Glencrutchery Road in quick succession swiftly followed by Tony Elmer/Darren Marshall and Roy Hanks/Dave Wells.

Klaffenbock was quickest through the Sulby speed trap at 146.5mph followed by Reeves at 144.9mph although the latter did have a brief problem and dropped back on the road, his first lap being 95.422mph. However, ahead on the road, Klaffenbock completed his lap at 113.245mph and Holden at 112.106mph. After the gap on the road, Harrison crossed the line with a speed of 110.546mph, the only other driver to break the 110mph, Elmer lapping at 108.995mph and Gary Bryan/Jamie Winn slightly quicker at 109.286mph.

Reeves, unsurprisingly, pulled in for adjustments before continuing but Klaffenbock went straight through and improved second time around to 113.572mph as did Holden at 112.623mph. Harrison failed to go quicker but Elmer did, breaking the 110mph barrier for the first time this week whilst Bryan improved to 109.869mph and the Birchalls to 108.623mph. Meanwhile, Reeves’ second lap was 106.854mph.

The chairs’ session came to an end at 7.45pm but a delay due to oil being dropped between Kirk Michael and Alpine meant it the session was ultimately abandoned leaving just one session remaining before the opening Superbike race on Saturday and as you can imagine, the solo riders and team are not happy, especially as the weather was superb today and this evening.

Wednesday 1st June 2011

Far from ideal track and weather conditions didn’t stop Kiwi Bruce Anstey from setting his fastest ever lap around the TT course on the Padgett’s Honda which also sent him straight to the top of the Superbike leader board as he lapped at 129.695mph. Speaking to the Padgett’s team earlier in the day, the bikes are virtually the same as lasts year and we know just how fast and successful they were in the hands of Ian Hutchinson and Bruce is more than happy with the way things are going.

“Doing a lap around the TT course has never been so easy or pleasurable, all because the bike handles so well over the bumps and jumps. Instead of fighting with the bike, I can now races it and with each lap I’m gaining in confidence. Working with Clive and the boys is a joy, it’s a great team with a big family feel, I’m happy”.

Not so happy was Scot’s man Keith Amor who had a low speed spill at Quarterbridge on his Superstock machine and dislocated his shoulder, he’s a tough man and I’m sure he’ll be back in tomorrow’s practice. It’s a big shame for Amor who has looked fast and determined on the TT Legends Superbike Honda and KBMG Racing Supertocker.

The Superstock leader board was headed by Gary Johnson on the Lincs Lifting Honda who lapped at 128.452mph, just in front of Michael Dunlop who was less than 2 seconds behind with a lap of 128.269mph and then Anstey who jumped off his Superbike and lapped at 127.694mph on the Padgett’s Superstock machine.

Wilson Craig Racing claimed the top two spots in the Supersport class with Cameron Donald and William Dunlop with laps of 125.110mph and 123.959mph respectively, with fan favorite Guy Martin just behind with a lap of 123.182mph on the Relentless Suzuki.

In the sidecars in was once again Klaus Klaffenbock setting the pace at 113.754mph but ex World Champion and super nice guy Tim Reeves was getting his new outfit going well with a lap of 111.379mph. Tim runs his own team and has previously run Suzuki engine but has switched to the CBR600RR for this year as he’s found his old engine lacking in some parts around the highly demanding 37 ¾ mile course and says “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!” and has engine built by 3 different tuners as he goes after his first TT victory.

As the week has progressed, the island is filling up with more and more bikers as the ferries from the UK keep unloading hundreds and hundreds of TT fans  with every crossing and there is a real excitement around the island as race week gets closer.

Tuesday 31st May 2011

John McGuinness continued his form and set the pace in the second day of qualifying lapping the TT course at 129.041mph on his 2nd lap aboard the TT Legends Honda CBR1000 Superbike. Hot on his heals was Guy Martin who looks to have taken to the GSXR1000 like a duck to water as he posted the 2nd fastest time with a lap of 128.261mph, a fraction in front of Cameron Donald on the Wilson Craig Honda with a lap of 128.089mph. Martin and Donald have swapped teams for 2011 but little else has changed, they are both already up to speed and fighting for the front positions.

Gary Johnson was 4th in the Superbike but 1st on his Superstock machine with a lap of 127.717mph and Michael Dunlop looks to getting along with the 1000cc Kawasaki as he lapped at 126.300mph, then jumped on his Yamaha R6 and went to the top of the leader board with a lap of 125.464mph in the Supersport class.

Sadness hit the island later in the evening as a big crash in the sidecar practice at Ballacrye resulted in a double fatality as Bill Currie, 67, from Cheshire and his passenger Kevin Morgan, 57, from Shrewsbury were killed in the incident. Bill was divorced with 2 children and Kevin was single. A sad end to a great day on the island and MotoGeo wishes to pass on our deepest sympathy to family and friends of both racers.

Monday 30th May 2011

At last the wait is over! The 2011 Isle of Man TT kicked off this evening and there was an incredible sense of anticipation as the riders got underway.

First out on track was the sidecars as bunch of solo riders were still making their way over to the island having been racing at the wet n wild Thruxton round of the British Superbike Championship earlier in the day.

This years event is a celebration of 100 years of racing on the TT mountain course and it looks like it will be another nail biting and exciting event, mainly due to many of the top teams and riders swapping around, giving new spice to this already unique and special race meeting.

Just before things got underway I had a chat to TT legend John McGuinness who was really looking forward to this years event, “I can’t wait to get started, at last all the hype and bull-sh*t is over of who’s going to do this or that, it’s finally time to get on with the job and I feel like I’m riding better than ever so I can’t wait to get going”.

His confidence was justified as he topped the time sheets with a lap of 122.838mph despite the far from ideal track conditions, his team-mate Keith Amor from Scotland just behind with a lap of 122.637mph. Sandwiched in-between the Honda duo was Kiwi Bruce Anstey who moves from Relentless Suzuki to Padgett’s Honda for 2011 and looked impressive right out of the box lapping at 122.752mph.

Qualifying was red flagged as the riders were out on their 3rd lap as heavy rain fell over the mountain and race directors deemed the conditions to dangerous, however, the TT is on the way and I’m camping in my little tent for the full 2 weeks so I’ll be bring you news, gossip and photos as the days go by.