MIKE HAMMONDS TT BLOG PAGES
Fantastic Friday
It was the
most remarkable days racing the Island has
probably ever seen. Yet again the record books
were ripped up and thrown in the bin, many
riders achieving their personal best.
The conditions were perfect for
racing, warm with slightly overcast sky
(avoiding a glaring sun) and a clean
and dry road. The delay in the days program was
the delaying of the roads open car at the end of
the day. James Hillier's Kawasaki had blown its
engine and left oil on the course at Barregarroo.
After the Senior had finished an inspection car
was sent out, after the seven VIP paid cars, to
escort a road sweeper from Ballacraine to Barregarroo,
this would clean the road and be taken off at
Douglas Road corner in Kirk Michael.
The first race of the day was the
Locate IM Sidecar
Race, as in Race 1 it became a battle between
the Birchalls and
John Holden / Lee Cain. Holden and Cain
initially leading before the Birchalls finished
the lap in front. The second lap was historic
with the Birchalls becoming
the first crew to lap the Mountain Course in
under 19 minutes with a lap of 18 minutes 59.01
seconds, an average speed of 119.250 mph. Holden
and Cain also set their fastest ever lap,
117.878 mph, as did Tim Reeves / Matty Wilkes in
19 minutes 13.73 seconds, 117.729mph.
Ben & Tom Birchal Ben and Tom went on to win by 22.92 seconds from John and Lee, setting a new race record of 57 minutes 25.04 seconds, an average speed of 118.281, a brilliant ride. Tim and Mark took the final rostrum place, averaging 116.967mph. Thirty three crews had lined up on the Glencrutchery Road with twenty two completing the race. The first nine finishers had a average over the 110 mph, Estelle Leblond and Melanie Farnier becoming the first female crew to achieve this marque. There were 4 silver and nine bronze replicas awarded.
A great crowd gathered for the prize presentation
in the pit lane on Friday evening where all
crews received a great reception. Ben and Tom Birchall were
very dignified when interviewed by Charlie
Williams and said what a privilege it was to
race on the Mountain Course; Tom has now
equalled Daniel Sayle's record
of eight TT wins
as a passenger. John Holden missed the
presentation, having to dash off to visit
injured wife Fiona Baker Holden.
The Birchalls take the spoils The final race of TT 2018 was the blue riband Senior TT and like the sidecar race this did not disappoint. The race became a battle royal between Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman. Michael Dunlop, although being third at the end of the first lap was never in contention to challenge the leaders and eventually finished fourth, over 2 minutes 37 seconds behind the winner.
Dean led all the way throughout
the race with Hickman hard on his tail. Harrison
was fastest through the lower part of the course
whereas Hickman was quickest over the open
spaces of the Mountain, road racer versus short
circuit racer.
Hickman put a near perfect lap
together on the final circuit to overhaul Dean
and in doing so he lifted the outright lap
record to a staggering 16 minutes 42.778
seconds, 135.452mph. Dean Harrison also beat his
old outright lap record, set in the Superbike Race,
with a final lap of 134.918 mph.
There were 40 finishers out the
63 starters, due to the exceptionally fast pace
only 7 silver and 16 bronze replicas were
awarded.
Peter Hickman After 22 years of racing on the Mountain Course, former MGP winner, Ian Pattison announced his retirement prior to finishing 29th in his final race. He had promised his wife he would retire when he became 50 years old.
The curtain came down on one of
the greatest TT Races ever, race and lap records
broken in all events. Brilliant racing and
brilliant weather, this year will long linger in
the memory.
After all the excitement and
jubilation there is also sadness and it would be
remiss not to think of Dan Kneen and Adam Lyon
and of their family and friends . They,
unfortunately are left with a difference legacy.
Mike Hammonds |