The final qualifying session for this year’s Isle of Man TT Races saw Peter Hickman come out on top in the Superbike class once more with the Monster Energy BMW by FHO Racing rider lapping at 133.494mph, half a second ahead of regular sparring partner Michael Dunlop (Hawk Racing Honda) who was a fraction slower at 133.431mph.
Hickman’s team-mate Josh Brookes was third fastest on the Superbike leaderboard with a lap of 132.483mph, only 0.4 seconds outside his personal best. They were followed by Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison (132.048mph) and John McGuinness (131.589mph), the latter recording his quickest lap since he won the 2016 Milwaukee Senior TT Race. Conor Cummins (130.406mph) rounded out the top six on the Milenco by Padgett's Motorcycles Honda.
In the Superstock class, it was Brookes who was quickest with a lap of 131.447mph. He was followed by WTF Racing’s James Hillier (131.351mph), Hickman (130.570mph), Jamie Coward (130.524mph) on the KTS Racing powered by Steadplan Honda, Burrows Engineering’s Dominic Herbertson (129.804mph) and the Aprilia of Mike Browne (129.496mph).
WORDS: Phil Wain