John Holden and Andy Winkle set the pace in yesterday’s opening Sidecar practice as the session got underway shortly after the scheduled 7.55pm start time in great conditions. The pair were reunited this year after Winkle’s enforced absence through injury last year, and were quickly on the pace.
The Lancashire duo, who won their only TT Race to date in 2011, were quickly out of the blocks and opened up with a lap of 112.055 (20:12.158), the fastest of the night, which they followed up with a second lap of 111.97 which was the second fastest in the session.
Also going well were the father and son team of Ian and Carl Bell. Ian Bell is clearly relishing his return to the Mountain Course, building on their near 113mph lap in 2015 with a pair of 111mph laps, the third and fourth fastest of the session. Ian Bell recorded his first and only TT win in 2003 and returned to the TT after an 11 year absence in 2014.
They were the only two outfits to break the 110mph barrier with last year’s double winners, Ben and Tom Birchall, third quickest at 108.981mph. Alan Founds/Aki Aalto were also above the 108mph barrier with Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance overcoming early problems to get in two laps, the quickest at 107.023mph.
17-times winner Dave Molyneux, with Dan Sayle back in the chair, were reported as an early retirement at Ramsey Hairpin and while there is still plenty of time with dry weather anticipated for the rest of the week, the Manx duo will be keen to get some track time in tomorrow’s session.
Times:
1 3 John Holden / Andrew Wi LCR/Silicone Engineering/Barnes Racing 1 20:12.158 112.055
2 6 Ian Bell / Carl Bell LCR/Ian Bell Motorcycles 1 20:14.829 111.808
3 2 Ben Birchall / Tom Bircha LCR/IEG racing 1 20:46.344 108.981
4 7 Alan Founds / Aki Aalto* LCR/Trustland/Marshall 1 20:49.996 108.663
5 16 Tony Baker / Fiona Bake Suzuki/CUMBRIA EXPRESS 2 20:58.672 107.914
6 15 Steve Ramsden / Matty LCR/Ramsden Racing 2 20:59.705 107.825
7 11 Wayne Lockey / Mark Sa Ireson Honda/Real Racing 2 21:00.797 107.732
8 8 Gary Bryan / Jamie Winn Baker/GBM UK / Drury Eng / Bass Tyres 1 21:04.688 107.400
9 26 Dwight Beare / Benjamin LCR/Clive Coates Racing 1 21:08.020 107.118
10 4 Tim Reeves / Patrick Far DMR/F13K Cancer / Klaffi Honda 2 21:09.151 107.023
11 12 Matt Dix / Shaun Parker baker/Apache Construction 1 21:19.085 106.192
12 35 Peter Founds / Jevan Wa Suzuki/Trustland Construction 1 21:26.915 105.545
13 10 Gary Knight / Daniel Eva DrVR/Redline Superbikes with Dr Vanneste & Dialled-in Racing 2 21:27.583 105.491
14 20 Michael Grabmuller / Ma Yamaha/Delta-Racing-Team/Polizeisportverein Wels 2 21:28.774 105.393
15 18 Roy Hanks / Kevin Perry Molyneux Rose TB/Dorwingear Ltd 2 21:37.760 104.663
16 22 Gregory Lambert / Kenny Honda/GLR Sidecars/Golden Fleece York 2 21:41.575 104.357
17 19 John Saunders / Frank C Shelbourne/Stapletons Tyre Services 2 21:41.697 104.347
18 9 Karl Bennett / Lee Cain Suzuki/BENNETT RACING 1 21:43.285 104.220
19 5 Conrad Harrison / Dean Honda/Printing Roller Services 1 22:03.857 102.600
20 29 Pete Alton / Keith Brother Yamaha/OTC Dyno Centre 2 22:04.002 102.589
21 33 Dan Knight / Stephane H Suzuki/Green Ant Racing 2 22:24.384 101.034
22 37 Terry O Reilly / Aidan Br Honda/Hi Level Cleaning/Wogan Race Performance 2 22:25.196 100.973
23 25 Estelle Leblond / Freddy SGR/Racingside 2 22:31.135 100.529
24 13 Darren Hope / Paul Bumf Honda/Ablec/Bar Logo 1 22:31.420 100.508
25 34 Francois Leblond / Bruno Shelbourne Suzuki/ 2 22:37.927 100.026
26 28 Mike Roscher / Ben Hug Suzuki/Roscher Racing by Penz13.com 1 22:38.083 100.015
27 61 Mick Alton* / Chrissie Cla LCR Suzuki/J & C Contracting 2 22:40.609 99.829
28 23 Mike Cookson / Alun Tho Honda/Cookson Travel Ltd 1 22:48.277 99.269
29 21 Colin Buckley / Robbie S Suzuki/Carl Cox Motorsport 2 22:54.905 98.791
30 43 Craig Melvin / Stuart Chri Suzuki/Artisan Real Estate Investors Ltd 2 22:56.079 98.707
31 59 Lewis Blackstock * / Patri Suzuki/Dave Holden Racing 1 23:03.788 98.157
32 55 Douglas Chandler / Julie Honda/Devereaus Manx Kippers 2 23:07.087 97.923
33 39 Lionel Mansuy / Melanie Windle/BERNER 1 23:13.250 97.490
34 40 Claude Montagnier / Max Kawasaki/CDL Racing Team 1 23:20.005 97.020
35 41 Kenny Howles / Dave Ma Ireson/Clive Price Racing 1 23:24.165 96.732
36 38 Peter Nuttall / Neil Wheat Ireson/ 1 23:33.800 96.073
37 44 Roy Tansley / Darren Pre MR Equipe/Proshift.com / Mike Austin Racing 1 23:38.588 95.749
38 47 Nigel Smith / Chris McGa Honda/ 1 23:47.524 95.149
39 57 Dave Demott* / Kevin Jo DDM/Severn Garage/ JDM Engineering 2 23:51.703 94.872
40 62 Thierry Laforest* / Franck Bellas-Honda/TEAM les TROIS ROUES 1 23:51.817 94.864
41 54 James Noble / Shaun Ch MR Equip/Hipperholme Tyres 1 23:53.054 94.782
42 53 Kevin Thornton / Dave D Suzuki/Thornton Racing 2 24:05.983 93.935
43 17 Gordon Shand / Philip Hy SHAND F2/Kevin Ashworth Machined Timber 1 24:16.301 93.269
44 58 Alistair Hawkins* / Ben M shellbourne/G.Killough Contracts 2 24:29.706 92.418
45 63 Peter Essaff* / Jeff Gillar MRE/Latest Developments Inc. 1 24:36.253 92.009
46 52 Wally Saunders / Bob Do Suzuki/THE STOP SHOP 1 25:41.513 88.113
47 30 Andy King / William Mora Other/The Bell on the Common 1 29:37.392 76.420
48 42 Dave Quirk / Robert Lunt Ireson/The Strand Shopping Centre, Douglas 1 01:05:27.147 34.587
