Karting chaos at TT launch - video highlights
The Isle of Man TT Riders swapped two wheels for four ahead of the TT2014 launch at the Villa Marina when they headed up to Jurby Race Track in the North of the Island for a TT Karting head-to-head.
In a highly contentious, fiercely contested series of races local rider Gavin Hunt was somehow declared the race winner from 2011 Supersport Champion Gary Johnson and ex World Sidecar champion Tim Reeves. Gary Johnson had the consolation of the fastest lap of the session at exactly a minute around the 1100m circuit, narrowly outside the outright lap record of 59 seconds.
In the earlier heats, local British Rally Champion Mark Higgins, on the Island as a representative of car manufacturer Subaru, was clearly targeted by the TT pack and was eliminated in fourth place.
The sidecar crews were clearly at home with the Ben and Tom Birchall, Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance all competing well while Dave Molyneux wisely used his experience to avoid the ensuing chaos.
Keith Amor, returning to the TT this year, adopted an aggressive approach that saw him come off second best to Michael Dunlop, who developed unique racing lines not seen on the course while Gary Johnson later confessed in the TT chat show at the Villa Marina that he'd only observed two corners -
'the one at the top and the one at the bottom of the circuit.'
The final TT Time Trial Championship, with riders due to go out at ten second alternatives, quickly descended into a wheel crunching survival of the fittest battle with the riders opting instead to create their own bunch start. Amor got his own back on Dunlop but Manxman Gavin Hunt prevailed to take the title.
The riders were on the Isle of Man for the launch of TT 2014 and also took the time to meet local, UK based and international journalists and TT sponsors.
Watch the best bits of the day in this highlights video now