John McGuinness heads into the final session of the 2010 Isle of Man TT practice week leading the challenge to be fastest qualifier.
The Mountain Road is scheduled to close at 5pm from Ramsey Hairpin to the Creg-ny-Baa, with the rest of the course shut by 6pm, for the Friday evening session. The first machines are expected to leave the TT Grandstand at 6.20pm, with the sidecars getting the final session under way, and the solos are expected out at around 7.50pm.
McGuinness, 15 times a winner at the TT, is leading the challenge for the fastest solo practice lap, and the prestigious Graham Award for that feat - a special limited edition Chronofighter Espace TT Watch, complete with Triskelion emblem, courtesy of Graham Watches, the TT’s official timing partner.
While McGuinness leads the way with his 130.242mph lap set on Wednesday evening, a number of the leading contenders are breathing down his neck and any one of nine or 10 riders is capable of overhauling his time.
The HM Plant Honda rider is closely followed by Padgetts racers Ian Hutchinson, who recorded a time just 0.137 slower in Thursday’s practice.
Guy Martin, Conor Cummins, last year’s Graham Award winner Cameron Donald, Keith Amor and Adrian Archibald have all also gone over 128mph.
As well as completing any last minute fine-tuning, tonight’s session will again give the solo riders the chance to practice the new speed restricted pit lane ahead of the first race, the PokerStars Superbike TT tomorrow.
In the sidecars, Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance have posted the fastest times every night apart from Monday, when his closest challenger Klaus Klaffenbock topped the first timed session.
Please listen to Manx Radio TT on 1368MW or 87.9FM in the Douglas area for further updates, or call the roads information phoneline on 01624 685 888.
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