TT 2019: Conor goes top of Sunday qualifying, Birchalls chasing Holden/Cain

Ramsey’s fastest barista, Conor Cummins was top of the Superbike times on Sunday’s TT 2019 practice.

After four days, and nine cancelled qualifying sessions in a row, conditions improved enough on Sunday afternoon for sidecars to get out on track for two laps, followed by Superbikes and Superstocks and finally for the TT Zeroes to make an appearance. Delays to the start of the session due to lingering mist on the Mountain put paid to hopes of having a qualifying session for Lightweights too.

Conor’s local knowledge and extensive TT Course experience came to the fore as he put in a 128.92mph lap to edge out Dean Harrison, although Harrison remains fastest of the week with the time he set on Tuesday, 129.53mph.

Tyco BMW’s Michael Dunlop had a terrible time, breaking down at the Mountain Box on his first lap and being trapped there for the rest of the session.

In the Superstock class Peter Hickman was only a little off Conor’s Superbike time at 128.499mph, and Conor was second fastest at 127.171mph.

Lee Johnston got two laps in on his Supersport machine and put them to good use by edging out Gary Johnson as fastest on the day. Lee’s best lap of 122.926mph was well down on 126.094 mph recorded by Dean Harrison earlier in the week but with strong winds on the Mountain it was never going to be fast day for the lighter 600cc machines.

Sidecar qualifying was dominated once more by John Holden and Lee Cain, but the Birchall Brothers closed the gap: 114.986mph versus 114.930mph.