Scotland’s Keith Amor and Englishman Steve
Plater lead riders out
The honour of opening Saturday’s first, untimed, Bennetts TT practice
session fell to Scotland’s Keith Amor and Steve Plater from Woodhall-Spa
who were followed by the other 12 newcomers in a controlled lap behind
the travelling marshal. Sweden’s Christer Miinen immediately stopped in
the pits before eventually getting a controlled lap in later on in the
session.
Gary Carswell (Bolliger Kawasaki) and Ian Lougher (Stobart Honda), led
out the main practice with spectators also treated to the first sight of
the returning Michael Rutter on MSS Discovery Kawasaki. Ian Hutchinson
was fastest through the Sulby Straight at an unofficial 186 mph.
Later on in the session Roy Hanks and Dave Wells led out the sidecars
with Klaus Klaffenboch registering the fastest time through Sulby at
145mph.
A total of 189 machines went through scrutineering. 58 Superbikes, 29
Supersports, 4 Senior, 34 Superstock and 64 sidecars.
Conditions for the first practice were described as fine and dry
although there were reports of light rain on the mountain between the
Ramsay Hairpin and Goosneck. Spectators had earlier been treated to a
spectacular 20 minute Battle of Britain memorial with a Spitfire,
Hurricane and Lancaster flying over Douglas bay.
This monday sees the 1907 re-enactment taking place on the original race
course starting at St Johns, with 100 classic bikes, including the
original winning Norton V-twin ridden by Rem Fowler taking to the start
line. Next Bennetts TT practice session will be Monday evening.
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