Just as the
weathermen predicted, heavy morning
rain and fog dispersed as Tuesday
wore on and by 5pm, the majority of
the Isle of Man was blessed with
bright sun and clear blue skies,
ideal weather for the second
official practice session of the
2010 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by
Monster Energy. However, the rain
that had fallen for much of the
night and morning meant that, whilst
most of the course was dry, damp
patches did remain, particularly
under the trees and riders were
warned to be cautious with the track
particularly wet at Ramsey Hairpin.
Visibility was good all round the
Mountain Course although riders also
needed to be vigilant with the
evening sun.
After the
extremely rapid speeds of the
opening night, many were wondering
if the 130mph barrier could be
broken as early as Tuesday but that
was far from the mind of the riders
who were simply concerned with
getting miles and laps under their
belt and ensuring machine set up was
the prime focus.
The session
got underway exactly on time at
6.20pm and, once again it was
Michael Dunlop who was first to set
off down Glencrutchery Road, this
time alongside Bruce Anstey, the
pairing on their Superstock and
Superbike machines respectively.
Keith Amor set off next, having his
first outing of the week on his
600cc machine, with Cameron Donald,
the Aussie again electing to take
his Superstock Suzuki out first. Guy
Martin was on his Superbike as was
Gary Johnson but Michael Rutter, Dan
Stewart, Adrian Archibald, Ian
Hutchinson and John McGuinness all
opted for their Superstock machines.
Meanwhile, Ryan Farquhar and Daniel
Kneen were both Supersport mounted.
Anstey was
first back, lapping at 123.357mph
with Dunlop slightly slower at
122.406mph but it was Martin who was
again fastest on the opening lap,
recording a speed of 125.028mph.
Hutchinson and Johnson were both
over 123mph with Archibald, Rutter
and Stewart all over 122mph.
Farquhar was the quickest of the
600s at 120.665 just ahead of Amor
at 119.800mph. Jim Hodson was in
trouble early on though pulling off
the course at Barregarrow.
Martin and
Anstey were circulating at high
speed at the front of the field and
they both went quicker second time
around at 126.752mph and 126.244mph
but the damp patches were clearly
evident though with Hutchinson and
Rutter in the 121mph bracket.
McGuinness had problems though and
his second lap on his Superstock
bike was only 112.11mph, the Honda
sounding sick as he cruised across
the line. Amor was getting more
dialled in on the HM Plant Honda
Superbike though with a lap in
excess of 124mph whilst Conor
Cummins was the quickest of the 600s
on the second lap at 121.04mph just
ahead of William Dunlop and Farquhar
but Michael Dunlop again finished
fastest overall in the Supersport
class with a time of 122.728.
Hutchinson
went back out on his Superbike and
was quickest through the Sulby speed
trap at 189mph recording 126.566mph
and then 128.017mph to again be the
quickest on the night. Michael
Dunlop was quickening his pace too
at 125.688mph with Amor going
quicker still at 126.043mph. Indeed,
most riders opted to take their
Superbike out later in the session
giving the track that little bit
more time to dry out with Donald
again lapping above 127mph but
Martin and Rutter were out on their
Superstock bikes, the latter
improving to 125.429mph.
David Johnson
was again the quickest of the
newcomers with a very impressive
116.284mph but all of them were
improving steadily, Stephen Thompson
again second best but going quicker
at 114.293mph. Herve Ganther,
Clinton Pienaar and Brian McCormack
were all above 107mph with David
Jones, Brandon Cretu and Daniel
Cooper all going well on their 600cc
machines.
In the
sidecars it was Dave Molyneux and
Patrick Farrance who were quickest,
lapping at 113.050mph on their first
lap and improving to 114.355mph
second time around. Behind, it was
close with Simon Neary/Paul Knapton
posting a best lap of 112.661mph
followed by Klaus Klaffenbock/Dan
Sayle at 112.647mph and John
Holden/Andy Winkle on 112.260mph.
Conrad Harrison/Kerry Williams were
also above 110mph whilst Tim Reeves/Dipash
Chauhan had problems before leaving
the line although they did
eventually get two laps in, the
second just above 107mph.
American Jimmy
Vanderhaar was reported as walking
back following an incident at
Governors Bridge. Chris Bradshaw
sustained a shoulder injury at
Keppel Gate and sidecar duo Glyn
Jones and Jason O Connor were
reported to have ankle and hand
abraisions respectively following an
accident at Lambfell Mooar.