TT 2018: Dunlop quickest in interrupted Friday session

Michael Dunlop led the way on the final night of practice for the 2018 Isle of Man TT races.

The Tyco BMW rider set his quickest lap of the week in the interrupted Friday evening session, lapping the 37.73-mile mountain course with an average speed of 132.983mph.

After an earlier RTC, adhesion was reduced at Graham’s Memorial following a clean up operation, meaning there were stationary yellows at the Verandah and waved yellows at Graham’s to slow riders down. 

Dunlop was quickest from the start, clocking a 132.33mph opener from a standing start before returning to the pits to head out on his MD Racing Carl Cox stocker, but wouldn’t get chance to head off down Glencrutchery road with the red flag coming out following an incident at Hailwood’s rise.

Shortly after the red flag, Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson announced there had been no injuries in the incident, but there was an oil spill that needed cleaning. The session resumed in time for the riders in the pits to get two laps, while those returning from the red flag would be able to get out for one.

Dunlop hit 132.66mph on his first lap after the restart and continued down Bray Hill for the first time this week. Hitting unofficial Superbike lap record pace Cronk ny Mona to Cronk ny Mona, he’d cross the line narrowly missing out on a 133mph lap.

Dean Harrison was second quickest for Silicone Engineering Kawasaki with an average speed of 131.85mph ahead of James Hillier, who clocked his quickest lap of the week with 130.644mph.

David Johnson was fourth quickest for Gulf BMW ahead of Padgetts’ Conor Cummins while Phil Crow completed the top six.

Ian Hutchinson continued to show improvements with his fastest lap of the week at 128.006mph, ahead of Gary Johnson, Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp.

Happy with his S1000RR superbike, Peter Hickman only headed out for two laps on his Smiths BMW stocker and led the way in the class with a 130.829mph lap ahead of David Johnson and Gary Johnson.

With tomorrow’s Superbike race looming, most top riders stayed on their 1000cc machinery for the interrupted session. James Cowton was quickest ahead of Gary Johnson and Adam McLean.