TT 2018: Hickman quickest on Thursday with personal best lap

Peter Hickman led the way as practice resumed for this year’s Isle of Man TT races on Thursday evening.

While the day’s earlier mist had cleared, damp patches remained at Ramsey Hairpin, the Nook and Governor’s dip, resulting in slightly slower lap times than the 133mph laps seen on Tuesday.

Dean Harrison was once again quickest through the early sectors, but would lose time from Ramsey to cross the line with a 130.61mph average speed, but Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman took control of the session early on with a 131.11mph lap.

While Hickman continued onto a flier, Harrison pitted to switch to his Superstock machine.

Michael Dunlop hit 130.61mph on his opening lap before he too pitted for his Superstock machine, meaning we are still to see a flying lap from the 15-time TT winner at this year’s event.

Flying on his second lap of the night, Hickman crossed the line to record his quickest ever lap of the mountain course despite slowing for the pits with an average speed of 132.802mph – just two seconds away from joining the exclusive sub-17 minute club.

Conor Cummins lapped at 131.175mph on the Padgetts Honda to place second quickest on the Superbike times.

Michael Dunlop returned to his Tyco BMW Superbike for two laps at the end of the session and set the third quickest time of the evening with a 130.959mph despite being short lapped at the end as the sidecar session got underway.

Leader of the first two evening’s of practice, Dean Harrison was fourth quickest on the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki with a 130.612mph lap, ahead of David Johnson on the Gulf BMW.

Josh Brookes recorded an impressive time on the Norton with an average speed of 129.171mph to place sixth quickest ahead of James Hillier and Phil Crowe while Michael Rutter and Lee Johnston rounded out the top ten.

The stunning Gulf-livered BMW of David Johnson was the quickest Superstock machine of the evening with a 129.202mph lap, ahead of Hickman on the Smiths BMW and Kawasaki’s Harrison.

Ivan Lintin lead the way in the Superbike class ahead of Jamie Coward and Lee Johnston.

 

Sidecar times to follow.