Martin and Molyneux set blistering pace at TT 2008
Guy Martin topped the Superbike leader board at 127.08mph; Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle topped the Sidecar charts at 115.067mph, World Champion Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance upped their pace to 107.955mph in nearly perfect conditions.
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 Thursday Practice Thursday brought us almost ideal conditions for practice after two days of rain and low cloud; just an occasional patch of damp under trees required a little caution. Warm evening sunshine was to be found around most of the course; with just a small sector at Waterworks having thin sea mist drift in occasionally; thin, high cloud later cut the light at our vantage point at Stella Maris. It is a quite a few years since I have been to that point and the speeds have increased noticeably for the front runners; this corner sees scratching short circuit style as they climb out of Ramsey towards the Hairpin. Spectators are welcome in the garden of Stella Maris in return for a donation to the charity collection. First off the line were Ryan Farquhar and Cameron Donald; but the first to charge past us was Guy Martin on the Hydrex Honda; he was closely followed by the Relentless Suzukis of Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald; then we had Adrian Archibald and Supersport mounted Ryan Farquhar all of whom were very rapid. Carl Rennie, Gary Carswell and Hutchinson were also out on their Superbikes; with Gary Johnson the first Superstock mounted rider to go through. We then had Hutchinson, Ian Lougher and Steve Plater who were all going very well. John McGuinness was not far behind; he had made some changes to his machine; but they did not work as he said it was virtually unrideable on that lap. Further changes were more to his liking and he was very quick as he went through on his third lap. Mats Nilsson was one noted as going well in his first TT, he was on the Padgett’s Manx Gas Honda; the lap charts showed that he lapped at over 120mph for the first time; the actual speed 120.09mph. Noted as going well was Superstock mounted Dan Stewart; his lap was at 123.95mph. In the Superbike class Guy Martin was fastest on the opening lap at 126.191mph; Anstey and Archibald both put their Suzukis around at over 125mph. The second lap saw the same four leading on the road and absolutely flying. Guy Martin increased his lap speed to 127.08mph, Anstey recorded 126.47mph and Donald 126.07mph. Farquhar upped his pace on the Supersport machine to 122.03mph. The end of the lap saw many pulling in to change machines; but several were noted as retirements out on the circuit amongst them were Michael Dunlop, Tim Poole and Paul Hunt. Paul Shoesmith was a retirement at Stella Maris, a stop to clear a misting visor and check the machine revealed a flat rear tyre. Davy Morgan only reached the end of pit lane before hitting problems and had to make a quick change onto his Superstock machine. Lap three saw Ryan Farquhar top the Superstock charts with his best ever lap of the circuit at 126.65mph; he was followed on the charts by Guy Martin 124.59mph; Dan Stewart 123.59mph; Adrian Archibald 122.99mph; Gary Johnson 122.98mph and Conor Cummins 122.47mph. Many changed to Supersport machines and they put in some rapid laps with Bruce Anstey; robbed of what seemed certain victory in this class last year, best at 122.65mph. The leader board was completed by Ryan Farquhar 122.03mph; the ever impressive Steve Plater 121.84mph; Keith Amor, fifth fastest ever in this class on his debut last year, at 121.62mph; Cameron Donald 120.85mph and Ian Lougher 120.09mph. Lougher looks very neat and tidy and has plenty in hand, so expect him to be in the frame for a win on race day. The third lap saw John McGuinness continuing on the Superbike and the adjustments must have worked as he went around at 126.69mph. Ian Hutchinson was also rapid on his Superbike at 126.29mph for fifth best on the night. The others on the leader board for the class were Ryan Farquhar, his Superstock lap putting him third as he will use that machine in the Superbike Race; Bruce Anstey 126.299mph and Cameron Donald 126.074mph. The newcomers are increasing their speeds, with Stephen McKnight the best at 116.023mph on his Supersport machine. Jamie Robinson upped his pace to 114.397mph on his Supersport. The Sidecars got under way on time and in good conditions. First past us and absolutely flying were Dave Molyneux and Daniel Sayle. Chasing hard were Honda powered Nick Crowe and Mark Cox; with the Relentless Suzuki of John Holden and Andy Winkle also very rapid. The action was fast and furious as the leading outfits took advantage of dry roads and still conditions to post some impressive lap times. Klaus Klaffenbock/Christian Parzer and Steve Norbury/Rick Long were others who were noticeably rapid. Further back in the running order were Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance; they are getting faster with every session and certainly using every second of practice time available to them. Molyneux/Sayle were, as expected, fastest on the first lap at 114.95mph, Crowe/Cox were next best at 112.94mph; with Klaffenbock/Parzer next at 111.46mph. The second lap saw Molyneux/Sayle up the pace to 115.067mph, whilst Crowe/Cox were slower than on their first lap. Klaffenbock/Parzer were third on the leader board with their first lap; fourth were Holden/Winkle at 11.070mph; fifth Norbury/Long at 109.97mph and sixth Phil Dongworth/Stuart Castles at 109.46mph. In ninth place came Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance at 107.955mph, set on their third lap; a top six placing seems a possibility come race day. There were some incidents, Alessio Corradi slid off at Waterworks without injury; Mick Charnock came off his Honda at Mountain Box and was taken to hospital by helicopter. Kerry Williams fell out the chair of Conrad Harrison’s outfit at Rhencullen; he was taken to hospital with hand injuries; we hope that Mick and Kerry will both make a rapid recovery.
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