Two high profile riders experiencing problems on the opening night of practice were Michael Dunlop and Guy Martin. Dunlop only got as far as Ballagarey on the PBM Kawasaki beofre pulling off the course with a suspected dropped valve whilst Martin pushed in on his second lap, the Superbike suffering from a fried clutch.

Keith Amor did two laps right on the back wheel of Honda TT Legends team-mate John McGuinness on Monday night and whilst he enjoyed it, he wasn't convinced that the 15-times winner was showing him his true lines. "It was great fun following John but I don't think he was on his usual racing lines everywhere. I know I'm his team-mate but he's not going to show anyone his secrets, he's too shrewd for that!"

Ryan Farquhar stopped at Kerromoar on his second lap on Tuesday evening, an engine problem with his new Superbike seeing him take the precaution of pulling in. "Coming out of Ginger Hall, it just didn't sound right so I pulled in but I was stuck out there for the rest of the session. I'm fed up at the moment!"

Dan Stewart was another high profile retirement on Tuesday, his BMW Superstock bike suffering from a loose plug gap. Like all good TT riders, he pulled in at a pub, the Hawthorn - the only problem was that it was closed!

One man smiling, as always, on Tuesday was Bruce Anstey. After seven years at TAS Suzuki, he's made the switch to Padgetts Honda and is delighted with how his Superbike's handling. "The Suzuki felt like it was always trying to throw me off whereas the Honda handles like a dream - it's like sitting in a big armchair."

Tim Reeves got up close and personal with the local wildlife on Monday evening, hitting a pheasant at Kerromoar, the collision doing significant damage to the front end of the LCH Honda fairing.