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MANX GRAND PRIX All is now set and practising for this year’s Manx starts tomorrow evening (Saturday). All classes will be catered for, with newcomers first out, followed by Classic and Ultra Lightweight then Senior, Junior and Lightweight. Quite a few of the bigger names are not expected to join in until Monday, after they have taken part in the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod tomorrow. There will be evening practice sessions tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with an afternoon outing on Thursday. There is provision for emergency early morning sessions on Friday and/or Saturday but these will only be utilised where there is no option. For those riding in the Lightweight and Senior there will be a one-lap untimed practice after racing on the Wednesday (September 1). Among the front runners in the two main races are likely to be Ian Pattinson, Craig Atkinson, Liam Quinn, Andy Jackson and Tommy Clucas. In the Classic, Alan Oversby, Roy Richardson, Dave Roper, Wattie Brown, Bud Jackson, John Loder, Chris McGahan and Steve Linsdell are among those expected to make the running. Last year’s winners Philip Gilder (Junior), Paul Duckett (Senior), Norman Kneen (Lightweight) and Stuart Sturrock (Ultra Lightweight) are no longer eligible for the main classes, but Kneen returns to the meeting via the Lightweight Classic which is not similarly debarred. Other former winners include Bud Jackson (4) Roy Richardson (3), Barry Wood (2), Dave Hughes (1) and John Goodall (1). In addition, Dave Roper is the only competitor to have won a TT (1984 500cc Historic). The fastet female on the TT Course, Maria Costello, returns with a 114.73mph lap from the TT, as her bench-mark. Also riding are Carolynn Sells (100.97mph), Gail Musson (97.23mph) and Elle Forrest (96.61mph) and newcomer Sally Harmer. Maria is also the fastest MGP lady rider at 113.52mph. The outright lap record for the Manx Grand Prix belongs to last year’s Senior winner Paul Duckett (750 Kawasaki), who did 18 minutes 59 seconds, an average speed of 119.25mph. Another seven seconds would have to be found for the first 120mph lap. The Junior lap record stands to Mick Skene (600 Suzuki) at 119.09mph from 2002, the Lightweight Richard Quayle (250 Honda) 114.80mph (1999), Ultra Lightweight Keith Taylor (400 Yamaha) 109.68 (2003), Senior Newcomers Ian Hutchinson (600 Honda) 116.66 (2003), Lightweight Newcomers Martin Finnegan (250 Honda) 111.19 (2000), Ultra- Lightweight Newcomers Stuart Sturrock (400 Yamaha) 107.86 (2003), Senior Classic Bob Heath (500 Seeley Matchless) 106.74 (1997), Junior Classic Jason Griffiths (350 Honda) 102.33 (2003) and Lightweight Classic Roy Richardson (250 Suzuki) 102.33 (2003). Boarding has been placed on the inside of Ballaspur, the left-hander after Ballacraine. The inside of the rock face is sometimes difficult to see in poor light and Percy Tait and Richard Quayle are among those who have struck their left shoulders in recent years. Clipping in too tight will now be penalised only by contact with a smooth wooden barrier.
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