Classic TT: Mike Browne unofficially betters Bruce Anstey's 2017 lap record in Formula One qualifying after 127mph benchmark on Kawasaki
Mike Browne set an unofficial lap record in Formula One qualifying at the Classic TT on Friday as he dipped under Bruce Anstey’s nine-year-old lap record.
Flying Kiwi Anstey lapped at 127.496mph in 2017 riding a Padgetts’s Yamaha YZR500 Grand Prix bike.
Browne was around half-a-second faster than the New Zealander, clocking 127.551mph on the Steadplan Racing/Electric Van Co Kawasaki ZXR750.
It was Browne’s first flying lap on the machine and the Republic of Ireland rider said there is still more to come ahead of next week’s blue riband Formula One and Senior Classic races.
“The conditions are really good, the track is good so it makes it that bit easier,” he told Manx Radio.
“The bike is fast and it’s promising because there was a bit of traffic out there and a few yellow flags and things, so we’re happy but we may still make another change, so that’s promising.
“Everyone’s out there enjoying it and it’s a bit selfish of me to be getting frustrated behind people, but that’s the nature of it.
“We’re happy with that, it was our first flying lap too; we changed the rear shock with Richard [Adams] of Maxton and they went the right direction, but we just need a few little changes to make it right.”
Browne was 8.241s faster than Jamie Coward on the Greenall Racing Kawasaki ZXR750, who lapped at 126.572mph, with Australia’s David Johnson (Steadplan Racing Kawasaki ZXR750) third quickest at 125.278mph, which he did from a standing start.
Michael Dunlop clocked 125.191mph from a standing start on the Team Classic Suzuki GSX-R750 as he slotted into fourth, seven tenths of a second behind Johnson.
Banbridge rider Shaun Anderson was fifth quickest on the Stanford Racing by ARD Suzuki (23.638mph) with Manx rider Conor Cummins completing the top six at 123.411mph on a Steadplan Racing Kawasaki ZXR750.
In the inaugural Junior 600 category, Laxey’s Joe Yeardsley was quickest with a speed of 120.143mph on the Tony Leach Joinery Yamaha R6.
Baz Furber was second fastest at 117.963mph riding the Robinson Timber Yamaha R6, with Tramore’s Brian McCormack in third on the JRC Racing Yamaha R6 with a speed of 116.188mph.