Manx Grand Prix Update After Friday Qualifying – New Race Schedule

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Manx Grand Prix Update After Friday Qualifying - New Race Schedule

Manx Grand Prix 2024

Sixth qualifying round

Qualifying for the 2024 Manx Grand Prix continued on Friday afternoon and while Dominic Herbertson was fastest of the session with a speed of 122.600mph in the Classic Superbike class on a BHR Racing Kawasaki, Andrea Majola continued to lead the Junior class on a VAS Engine Racing Paton, with the Italian clocking a speed of 112.500mph.

Heavy rain overnight caused the planned morning practice to be cancelled to allow the Alpine Ski Course to dry out enough for practice to take place and although wet patches remained and strong winds continued, the Classic Senior, Classic Junior and Lightweight practice finally got underway at 1:45pm.

Stuart Hall – Yamaha YZ250 – Photos by David Watts

Stuart Hall (Whippet Racing Yamaha) was first on the lap at 108.177mph but it was Michael Dunlop (MD Racing Honda) who took the lead, the 29-time Isle of Man TT winner clocked the first lap of the week at 108.945mph. Lee Johnston (Reed Racing Honda) was third on 107.183mph with Alan Oversby (Pipe Werx/Tony Leach Joinery Kawasaki Joinery) the fastest 400cc bike on 106.899mph.

Michael Dunlop – Honda RS250 – Image by David Watts

However, conditions steadily improved and Hall’s second lap of 111.535mph saw him leapfrog Dunlop into the lead. A late lap from Michael Evans (108.868mph) saw him push Johnston into fourth and Owen Monaghan (OM Racing Kawasaki) was another improver, with a lap of 105.045mph making him the second fastest 400cc rider.

John McGuinness (Paton) – Image by David Watts

John McGuinness (Winfield Paton) was fastest on his Classic Senior debut with a speed of 107.921mph, followed by Mike Browne (Eureka Racing Norton) at 106.436mph and Ulsterman Shaun Anderson (Beugger Paton) at 105.537mph. Meanwhile, Evans (Ken Rutter Honda) was fastest in the Classic Junior class with a speed of 99.337mph, which put him ahead of Paul Jordan (Davies Motorsport Honda) at 98.928mph.

Mike Browne – Norton ES2 – Image by David Watts

Browne was slower on his second lap but both Anderson and Herbertson (Melbray London Norton) improved on 108.410mph and 104.105mph respectively, Anderson’s lap taking him to the top of the standings. Newcomer Harley Rushton (Chris Hughes Racing Honda) was also running well at 95.277mph and it was a similar story in the Classic Junior class, where Jordan’s second lap of 101.223mph made him the fastest of the afternoon.

After a non-racing related medical incident caused a brief delay, the second session for the Classic Superbike, Senior and Junior classes began at 3.07pm with Herbertson fastest on the opening lap at 120.638mph. That put him ahead of Brian McCormack (119.429mph), Craig Neve (119.197mph), Michael Rutter (118.870mph), Derek Sheils (118.451mph) and Michael Sweeney (118.085mph).

Herbertson increased his speed on the second lap to 122.600mph, enough to take him to the top of the standings while behind him, Sheils (120.441mph), Neve (119.976mph), Amalric Blanc (118.568mph) and Barry Furber (117.369mph) all improved their speed on the second lap.

Chris Cook – Kawasaki ZX-6R – Photo by David Watts

In the senior class, Chris Cook set an early speed on his Kawasaki of 14.654mph and that put him ahead of Julien Cregniot (114.053mph), Maurizio Bottalico (113.383mph), Michael Gahan (113.132mph), Sam Johnson (112.920mph) and Gerald Dath (112.707mph).

Cook maintained his lead at the top of the timesheets on the second lap with a speed of 115.615mph, as Gahan (114.725mph), Dan Sayle (114.447mph), Dath (114.231mph), Johnson (113.674mph) and Andy Skov (112.400mph) also accelerated. Newcomers Johnny Stewart (110.928mph) and Caomhan Canny (110.225mph) also broke the 110mph barrier.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ingham (Castings Technology Aprilia) led the Junior class after the opening lap with a speed of 110.599mph that saw him clear of Liam Chawke (110.161mph) and Jacque Foley (109.983mph) while Stewart (106.734mph) impressed once again in fourth.

However, all were overshadowed by Majola, with Paton once again proving he was the man to beat on race day, holding on to the lead from compatriot Bottalico (112.004mph) as Ingham (111.196mph), Cregniot (111.171mph), Chawke and Foley completed the top six.

The racing will take place on Saturday with the Classic Senior, Junior and Lightweight classes. Poor weather forecasts for Sunday have forced organisers to move Sunday’s races, the Classic Junior, Senior and Classic Superbike classes, to Monday.