Photo: iomtt.com

QUALIFYING for the 2015 Isle of Man TT races got underway on Saturday evening, but unfortunately weather conditions meant the first practice session had to be cut short.

The session got underway with a speed controlled lap for the solo and sidecar newcomers with TT rider liaison officer and 2002 Lightweight TT winner, Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle led the first wave with the second rider liaison John Barton led the second wave.

Following shortly after, the 12 F2 sidecar newcomers got their first taste of the Mountain course on closed roads. These newcomers were led by experienced drivers and passengers Roy Hanks/Kevin Perry, John Holden/Dan Sayle and Tony Baker/Fiona Baker-Milligan.

At 6:57pm the Lightweights set off down Glencrutchery Road for their first official session of the 2015 Isle of Man TT. Jamie Hailton and Michael Sweeney led the way and they were followed in quick succession by Junior Manx Grand Prix winner Andy Lawson and Dan Cooper, Michael Rutter and James Hillier.

All of the newcomers had soon made their way back to the grandstand whilst Hillier set the quickest speed through the Sulby speed trap at 156mph. Hamilton was the first rider to complete a lap of the Mountain course at 112.19mph whilst Sweeney completed his first lap at 111.18mph.

Hillier was another rider over the 112mph mark, but the quickest two riders on the opening lap were Gary Johnson and Ryan Farquhar. The duo had left the line together and lapped at 114.866mph and 144.827mph respectively. Lee Johnston, on-board another KMR Kawasaki, lapped at 113.32mph.

Farquhar and Johnson circulated together on their second laps and increased their speeds to finish laps of 117.12mph with Johnson 0.1s behind.  

Rain began to fall around various parts of the course and Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson ended the session early, therefore the F2 sidecars were unable to take part in the first session and will now have to wait until Monday evening to get their first laps in.

Due to the weather, once again, it is looking unlikely that Monday’s practice session will take place. The Clerk of the Course has issued this statement: “At the moment there is every indication that the weather isn’t looking good.

“We want to give people plenty of notice so we will review in the morning and make an announcement at around 2pm dependent on conditions at the time.

“I will be in constant contact with the Meteorological Office at Ronaldsway – who incidentally were spot on with last night’s forecast when we had to curtail the session towards the end of the Lightweight TT session.”