A new fuel being tried by the Black Eagle Racing team led to Michael Dunlop pulling out of the Senior Classic TT with his new short-stroke MV triple at the end of his first lap.

With Dean Harrison, also on a Black Eagle MV, and Ian Lougher, on the John Chapman Racing bike, also stopping on lap one, it meant that the challenge of the exotic MVs to the Paton twins and British singles was rapidly over.

“Michael’s engine was running rich,” David Kay of the Black Eagle team said. “There wasn't anything wrong with the bike, but we couldn't rejet it because there isn't a dyno here. Michael said that on the flat it pulls like a train, but as soon as he put a load on it climbing the Mountain there was a problem.”

The team only had time to run the new engine briefly on the dyno in their West Midlands workshop before shipping the bike to the Island. The bike ran well during practice week, but although it was jetted down for the race, the problems materialised.

There was no time for the Kay family to lament, however, for the versatile team immediately had to get their replica 500cc Gilera four out for Michael Dunlop to ride in a parade lap in memory of Bob McIntyre setting the first TT 100mph in 1957. The brilliant Dunlop responded by giving the dustbin-faired machine a lap in 22m 32.4s - an average of over 100mph again.