Perfect conditions for first timed practice session at TT2009
Perfect conditions in the Isle of Man greeted fans, officials and competitors for the first timed practice session of the 2009 TT on Monday evening.
The start was slightly delayed, but at 6.40pm a controlled lap for newcomers, including three sidecar crews, started from the TT Grandstand.
First to complete a lap was TAS Suzuki’s Cameron Donald, the Australian carrying on for a second circuit.
Gary Johnson, on his superbike, put in a 125.187mph average lap, just before Michael Dunlop recorded a 122.158mph lap on his supersport machine.
Just minutes before the chequered flag came out to end the solo session Manxman Conor Cummins lapped on his supersport bike at an average 117.652mph and Ryan Farquhar, also on a supersport, set the fastest lap of the night for the supersport class with a 122.433mph average lap.
HM Plant Honda’s Steve Plater recorded a 124.096mph lap on his superbike on his final lap of the evening, with Donald coming through with a 123.912mph and Olie Linsdell, also on a superbike, at 122.087mph
The sidecar session was led away by the outfit of Nick Crowe, closely followed by fellow Manxman Dave Molyneux.
Moly was first to complete a lap, at an average of 113.26mph, and continued for a second circuit.
The outfit of Philip Dongworth and Gary Partridge was second through with a lap of 111.366mph.
Molyneux’s second lap hit a 114.697mph average, with the Regaby man pulling into the pit lane at the end of the circuit.
Dongworth’s second lap saw him record a personal best of 112.4mph, the first time has lapped at more than 112mph.
Practice is scheduled to continue on Tuesday evening, with the solo machines due to come out at 6.20pm.
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