Classic TT: Local man Dudgeon tops Superbike Classic TT qualifying

Manx racer Andrew Dudgeon posted the fastest time in yesterday morning’s RST Superbike Classic TT Race qualifying session, and indeed the fastest time of the week, at the 2018 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

However, Dean Harrison, undoubtedly the race favourite for Monday’s Superbike Race, was again beset by problems and twice pulled in at the return lane after failing to get his Silicone Engineering Kawasaki going.

Conor Cummins went out on the ex-factory YZR500 two stroke V4 Yamaha that Bruce Anstey won on in 2014 – appropriately under the watching gaze of the New Zealander who is recovering from cancer and who rode his own demonstration lap of the Mountain Course at the end of the session – and clocked an impressive 121.36mph, marginally behind Gary Johnson’s 121.53mph on the Team York Suzuki.

Paul Jordan topped the board after the opening morning lap, recording a lap of 120mph – his first of the week on the Mistral Racing Kawasaki, separating his Mistral Racing Kawasaki teammates Derek Shiels (121.184) and Horst Saiger (119.942).

In yesterday evening’s 2nd Superbike session of the day, Team York Suzuki rider Gary Johnson improved his time to 122.763 to finish second fastest qualifier overall while Derek Shiels (121.716), riding the Greenall Racing Kawasaki, Paul Jordan on the Mistral Racing Kawasaki (121.512) and Team Classic Suzuki’s Philip Crowe (121.744) all posted their fastest times of the week in the latter session.

In yesterday afternoon’s Junior session, Dom Herbertson, riding a Davies Motorsport Honda, posted his fastest time of the week, a couple of seconds slower than Jamie Coward overall fastest set on Friday night, ahead of Monday’s Locate.im Junior Race. Michael Rutter remains the third fastest with the time he posted on the opening night while Alan Oversby (98.392) and Philip McGurk (98.189) also clocked their best times of the week in the session.

Monday’s Race schedule is as follows:

09.30: Roads Closed round the Course

10.10: CTT Superbikes/ MGP Senior/ Junior/ Lightweights/ All Newcomers (1 lap)

11.00: Locate.im Junior Classic TT Race (4 Laps)

13.00: MGP Senior/ Junior/ Lightweights (no newcomers) (1 lap)

14.00: RST Superbike Classic TT Race (4 Laps)

16.10:Classic Racer Magazine Classic TT Lap of Honour (1 Lap)

17.15: MGP Newcomers Race (4 Laps)

19.10: Roads scheduled to open around the Course