Tuesday's TT blog: McGuinness sets the pace

There’s only been a handful of laps over 128mph in TT history between John McGuinness, Cameron Donald, Bruce Anstey and Ian Lougher and they’ve come at the height of a racing situation.

But McGuinness lapped at 128.49mph in last night’s practice session on his HM Plant Superbike – a phenomenal lap considering it’s only Tuesday and most riders are still getting their head around riding the 37.73-mile TT course again.

Guy Martin was second quickest with a 126.93mph lap on the Hydrex Honda but when he was out on his supersport bike he was forced to stop at the Back Dub after his CBR600RR was seen leaking oil.

Stobart Honda’s Ian Lougher was third quickest with a 126.34 mph lap, followed by Ian Hutchinson on the second HM Plant Honda (126.26mph), Klaffi Honda’s Martin Finnegan (124.57mph) and Adrian Archibald on the Relentless Suzuki (124.15mph).

Archibald’s team-mate Bruce Anstey wasn’t happy with the chassis set-up of his GSX-R1000 and the team are expecting new stiffer shock springs to arrive tomorrow.  He lapped at 118mph.

Michael Rutter’s MSS Kawasaki ZX-10 went onto three cylinders so he only got one lap at 115.62mph but lapped at 117.87mph on the Zx-6RR that Stuart Easton races in British Supersport.

Anstey topped the supersport and superstock leaderboards on the Relentless Suzukis. He clocked 125.33mph on the GSX-R100 and 121.332mph on the GSX-R600.

Martin Finnegan was second quickest in superstock on the MV Agusta  with a 122.95mph lap, ahead of Manxman Paul Hunt’s Yamaha R1 (121.69mph).

Ryan Farquhar was second quickest in Suersport on a Harker Racing Kawasaki (120.44mph) from Lougher’s Blackhorse Finance Honda (120.11mph), Hutchison (119.97mph) and McGuinness (119.96mph).

TT rookie Steve Plater clocked an impressive 116.55mph on the AIM Yamaha R6 for 16th quickest and was the fastest newcomer in the class. He only managed marginally faster on his superbike R1 at 116.68mph.

Last year’s double TT winners Nick Crowe and Dan Sayle were fastest in the Sidecars at 114.20mph.

Lap record holder Dave Molyneux and Rick Long only got as far as Bray Hill before breaking down. Moly lapped fifth at 105.06mph on Monday when Crowe also topped the leaderboard.