Another day of thrilling racing in prospect
Wednesday 04 June 2008
TT
Excitement is mounting ahead of the racing scheduled for Wednesday at the 2008 Isle of Man TT, but the biggest race could be against time as rain is predicted in the afternoon.
The second Relentless Supersport Junior TT is due to start at 10.45am, with the second Sure Mobile Sidecar TT race getting under way at 1.15pm.
There is low-lying cloud over the Mountain section of the famous TT course, but the rest of the Island is bathed in sunshine and it is hoped the cloud will lift before the four lap Supersport race is scheduled to start.
It is hoped the three lap Sidecar race will be completed before the predicted rain hits the Island.
The second Supersport competition could be one of the most exciting races of what has already been an incredible festival.
At the end of the first Supersport race on Monday, New Zealand’s Bruce Anstey took the top step of the podium after setting a blistering pace and dominating the event. He was followed home by AIM Yamaha’s Steve Plater, whose battle from seventh to second was simply stunning, and 13-times TT winner John McGuinness, who suffered mechanical problems in the closing stages.
However, just three hours later Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider Anstey was stripped of the win due to a technical infringement and Plater was given the victory – his first TT win in only his second year at the festival. McGuinness was promoted to second and Scotland’s Keith Amor to third.
Anstey is expected to redouble his efforts today to take back the Supersport victory, while the flying Plater, with the confidence of his first win under his belt, will take some beating.
McGuinness is yet to win a TT this year and will, if the Honda holds together, be out to put that right, as will Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson, who both suffered retirements during Monday’s Supersport race due to mechanical issues.
Amor had been flying in the early stages of Monday’s Supersport race and cannot be discounted from chasing a podium place, and the likes of Ryan Farquhar, Ian Lougher, Conor Cummins and Gary Johnson have also been on superb form.
Many fans will be keeping a close eye on Anstey’s teammate Cameron Donald. After missing last year’s TT due to injury, the Australian amazed many by storming to victory in the Dainese Superbike race on Monday and following that up with a win in Monday’s Scottish Life International Superstock race. He was off the pace in the first Supersport race, but will be keen to put that right today.
The second Sure Mobile Sidecar TT also promises to be a fascinating battle, unless mechanical gremlins interfere again.
Dave Molyneux and Dan Sayle had one of the fastest outfits in practice, but the Suzuki-powered machine suffered problems on Friday evening and although it took the start of Saturday’s first Sidecar race, it retired just yards into lap one.
That left the outfit of Nick Crowe and Mark Cox battling with the pairing of John Holden and Andrew Winkle, with Holden/Winkle taking an early advantage.
There was no holding back the outright lap record holder, though, and Crowe guided his outfit to yet another TT win.
Although the battle between Crowe/Cox and Holden/Winkle was absorbing, it was the performance of the third place outfit which amazed many.
World Champion Tim Reeves, in his TT debut, took a podium place with passenger Patrick Farrance. The pairing will be hoping to equal, or even better, that position on Wednesday.
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Download the starting list for Wednesday's racing in PDF format below.
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