Road Racing Weekly Roundup
Johnny Stewart Sets the Benchmark as 2026 Manx Grand Prix Practice Opens
The 2026 Manx Grand Prix officially got underway on Sunday, 16 August, with competitors taking to the Snaefell Mountain Course under glorious sunshine. Following mandatory speed-controlled familiarisation laps for 22 international newcomers, full-speed qualifying sessions commenced for the solo categories.
Johnny Stewart stole the show during opening practice, establishing himself as the early man to beat. Stewart topped the timing sheets in the Supersport class with an impressive lap of 117.018mph, narrowly holding off Lee Hara (115.942mph) and Eddy Wormald (113.975mph). Stewart doubled his success by setting the fastest lap in the Sportbike class at 112.852mph.
Johnny Stewart: "To get out on the course under clear skies for the first session and feel the bike working exactly how we wanted is a massive confidence booster. The Mountain Course is in fantastic shape, and setting a solid early benchmark takes a lot of the pressure off for the rest of practice week."
John McGuinness MBE 30th Anniversary Exhibition Opens in TT Paddock
The official heritage display celebrating John McGuinness MBE and his milestone 30 years of competitive racing on the Mountain Course officially opened its doors to the public today (Monday, 17 August). Located in the main TT Paddock alongside the technical inspection bays, the temporary museum houses three decades of legendary machinery, trophies, and race suits.
Highlighting the collection is the exact 2007 HM Plant Honda Fireblade that McGuinness rode when he became the first competitor in history to break the 130mph lap barrier. McGuinness will ride the machine during a special, emotional tribute parade lap later in the festival.
John McGuinness MBE: "Seeing 30 years of your life laid out under one roof is quite emotional. Looking at the old leathers from 1996 right next to the 2007 130mph bike brings back every single turn, every pit stop, and all the incredible people who helped me along the way. I hope the fans enjoy walking through the history as much as I did putting it together."
Classic TT Heavyweights Prepare for Opening Evening Sessions
With the initial Manx Grand Prix qualifying sessions wrapped up, paddock attention is turning toward the Classic TT categories. Classic F1, Senior, Junior, and Lightweight machines will take to the course this week as the combined 12-day festival shifts into its highest gear.
Paddock mechanics have completed final engine warm-ups on the star-studded big-bike grid. Local favourite Nathan Harrison carries the No. 1 plate aboard his Greenall Racing Kawasaki ZXR750, followed closely by Mike Browne (No. 2), Jamie Coward (No. 4), and Michael Dunlop MBE launching his campaign from No. 6 on the Team Classic Suzuki. All eyes also remain on 14-time TT winner Peter Hickman, who takes the No. 10 slot on WizNorton Racing's iconic rotary machine.
Thruxton BSB: Road Racers Tune Up on Short Circuits
Over on mainland tarmac, several road racing regulars utilised the British Superbike Championship round at Thruxton over the weekend (14–16 August) to sharpen their high-speed racecraft ahead of their late-summer road commitments. In sunny Wiltshire, road racers competed across the Superstock and Sportbike support classes, using the high-speed airfield layout as a final physical tune-up before returning to natural road circuits.
Sources
Road Racing News, Manx Radio Motorsport, BikeSport News, Auto-Cycle Union (ACU), Isle of Man TT Official, Crash.net.
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