Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop both stamped their authority on the Isle of Man TT qualifying leaderboards on Wednesday as they continued to justify their status as pre-race favourites for race successes at this year’s event.
Honda Racing rider Harrison set the fastest Superbike lap across Wednesday’s two sessions, posting a speed of 133.712mph in perfect conditions during the afternoon outing.
That speed was marginally slower than the fastest lap of the week so far that the 37-year-old Yorkshireman recorded on Tuesday night when he posted 133.925.
Fourteen-time TT winner Peter Hickman lapped at 132.039 on Wednesday evening for the second fastest Superbike speed of the week, with John McGuinness third quickest in practice to date on 130.863 from Wednesday afternoon.
Harrison produced a blistering lap of 133.867 to top the week’s Superstock standings, with MD Racing BMW-mounted Dunlop next with 131.952 and Brookes third at 131.943 on his DAO Racing Honda.
Dunlop registered the fastest ever Supersport qualifying lap when he circulated at an average speed of 129.557 on his V2 Ducati, having earlier initially obliterated that landmark with a circuit at 128.315 in the afternoon session.
Peter Hickman is second in the Supersport qualifying leaderboard for the week at 127.245 on his Triumph, then Harrison at 127.242 and Brookes with 126.129.
Dunlop was also in fine form on his Paton in the Sportbike category, setting an unofficial lap record of 123.557mph to lead that class from Mike Browne (121.03) and Paul Jordan (120.475).
Dunlop’s efforts in the Superbike and Superstock classes on Wednesday evening were inhibited by mechanical problems.
The sidecar practice was red-flagged shortly after the commencement of their session on Wednesday evening and soon after it was announced that there would be no further qualifying action.
The next qualifying sessions are set to take place on Friday morning and afternoon, with the first race of the event, Superstock race one, scheduled to be staged over three laps on Saturday (10:45 BST).