TT 1996
1996 saw the reintroduction of the Production Race, over three laps of the Mountain Course, with great interest being shown once again by the manufacturers, riders and fans.
At the end of the first lap Honda-mounted Iain Duffus led from Phillip McCallen on a similar machine by 3.6 seconds, with Nigel Davies (Yamaha) third, 3.6 seconds down on McCallen. McCallen set about things on lap two and took the lead by 3.1 seconds from Duffus, as Lee Pullen moved up to third ahead of Nigel Davies.
At the flag Phillip McCallen won by 5.9 seconds from Iain Duffus and Nigel Davies who had regained third spot from Pullan. The 750cc class was won by Suzuki mounted Ian Lougher.
Phillip McCallen, the 1995 winner of the TT Formula One event, started off as favourite once again and at the end of the opening lap he led by 6.9 seconds from Iain Duffus and Nick Jefferies, Honda-mounted like Phillip. There were no changes after two laps, but pit stops made a difference by the time third lap positions were posted. Phillip still led, but from Lee Pullan, with Nick Jefferies now third - Duffus had dropped to 10th.
At the second pit stops the top five remained the same, but Iain Duffus moved up to sixth. Lee Pullan's great challenge was halted at the pit stop, when he had problems getting a rear tyre - he eventually got away but dropped at the end of the fifth lap to 14th. At the end of lap five McCallen led Jefferies by 52.3 seconds, followed by Rutter, Duffus, Griffiths and new sixth placeman Jim Hodson.
The top five remained the same to the flag and Marc Flynn took sixth place.
The Singles TT was reduced to two laps from four due to the weather - no pit stops - just a sprint to the line, which was won by Jim Moodie with David Morris again second and Bob Jackson third.
Phillip McCallen, so nearly a winner of the Lightweight TT on a couple of occasions, was hoping to make it third time lucky and led on the first of the four laps from Joey and Jim Moodie. McCallen still led from Joey at half distance, then he had exhaust problems, which slowed him, letting Joey into the lead at the end of the third lap, with Moodie and Phillip in third place.
At the flag it was Joey ahead by 5.7 seconds from Jim Moodie as Jason Griffiths took third from the slowing McCallen.
Joey was all out for win number 21 in the Ultra Lightweight TT, after his retirement in 1995. The race, run concurrently with the Singles TT, was reduced to two laps. At the end of the opening lap it was Southampton rider Gavin Lee who led by 2.5 seconds with Glen English in third.
Once again the wily Ulsterman Joey Dunlop pulled out all the stops on the final thirty-seven and three quarter miles to take the chequered cloth by 4.2 seconds from Gavin and Glen.
The Junior TT was another race effected by the weather, being reduced to three laps. A battle between Phillip McCallen and Iain Duffus on their Hondas was eagerly expected. It was McCallen who headed the pack by over fourteen seconds at the end of the opening lap, followed by Duffus and Ian Simpson.
Duffus pitted for fuel at the end of the first lap, which proved the only movement on the leader board, as McCallen still led with Simpson now second. A lap later as the Ulsterman took his second win of the week at record speed, Iain Duffus was back in second and Ian Simpson in third.
Double wins in the Sidecar races continued in 1996 as Dave Molyneux took record breaking victories in both races. Race A a start to finish affair from 1995 winners Rob Fisher, with Kenny Howles third, whilst in the second the unstoppable winners shattered all the sidecar records including anew lap at 111.02mph, as Fisher and Howles again took the remaining podium positions in their wake.
No rider had ever won four races in a week in the history of the TT - the question was could Phillip McCallen and the mighty Honda RC45 make history with the blue-riband race of the TT - the Senior?
He opened with a lap of 121.69mph to lead Jim Moodie on his Kawasaki by 7.2 seconds and Nick Jefferies on another Honda third.
McCallen increased his lead to almost double after a further lap, with the top three remaining in situ on the half distance lap. It was the same a lap later, then Jim Moodie's challenge ended with a retirement at the pits, so lap five saw McCallen leading Jefferies and Joey was now up to third.
Phillip McCallen rode on to become the first 'four in a week' winner as Joey pipped Nick Jefferies for second place to make it yet another Honda one-two-three.