Manx Grand Prix: Michael Dunlop raises bar with 125mph lap on Team Classic Suzuki XR69

The Northern Ireland rider clocked a standing start lap in the evening session of 124.735mph on the Team Classic Suzuki XR69 and raised the bar further on his flying lap, lapping at 125.537mph. Dunlop also blasted through the Sulby speed trap at 171.54mph on his second lap.

Earlier, he posted a speed of 122.914mph from a standing start in the afternoon despite developing a gearbox issue on the 1100cc XR69, which was leaking oil.

The 33-year-old was due to be riding the newer Team Classic Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD but has run into problems with the machine, and was reported to be waiting on a rear sprocket to be flown into the Isle of Man in time for Thursday’s session.

Rob Hodson did one lap (123.047mph) in the evening on the Greenall Kawasaki, although his time from the afternoon was slightly faster at 123.471mph to leave him second quickest.

Australian David Johnson, who won the race in 2019 after Dunlop retired on the last lap, climbed the leaderboard after completing four laps on the Alasdair Cowan Kawasaki ZXR750 in the afternoon, setting a best speed of 123.233mph for the third fastest time.

Craig Neve slotted into fourth on the Alasdair Cowan Kawasaki (122.91mph).

Paul Jordan from Magherafelt did 120.487mph on the Mistral Kawasaki in the afternoon session, while Lee Johnston finally completed a lap on the Ashcourt Racing Honda RC45 at 114.133mph from a standing start.

In the Lightweight session, Market Rasen’s Jim Hind again set the pace on Dennis Trollope’s TZ250 Yamaha, improving on his best time from Sunday to up the ante to 116.317mph after three laps in the afternoon. Hind also did a standing start lap in the evening at 115mph.

Dunlop, who was on a fast lap in the afternoon before the chain came off his Crossan Motorcycles RS250 Honda at Governor’s Dip, was third fastest in the evening at 112.247mph after completing one lap.

Stuart Hall from Wakefield was second quickest, clocking 113.106mph on his second lap, while Ian Lougher did one lap on the LayLaw Yamaha at 111.44mph.

His team-mate, Mike Browne, stopped at Crosby. The Cork man was fastest in the class on Tuesday at 113.486mph from a standing start.

Morecambe’s John McGuinness recorded the fastest lap of the week in the Senior Classic session at 109.68mph on Roger Winfield’s Paton.

McGuinness is the favourite for Saturday’s four-lap race as he bids for a third straight victory on the Italian machine at the festival.

Dominic Herbertson was second fastest (107.802mph) on the Davies Motorsport Yamaha.

In the MGP Senior class, Stephen Smith led the way on the Alasdair Cowan Kawasaki at 119.956mph, while Italian Francesco Curinga (Paton) topped the times in the MGP Junior class at 114.974mph.

Michael Evans was airlifted to Noble’s Hospital after crashing at Sulby Bridge in the Classic Superbike session in the afternoon. The Manx rider was reported to have sustained an elbow injury.

The penultimate qualifying session is scheduled to take place on Thursday evening from 6pm.

An additional session was held on Wednesday following the cancellation of Monday’s practice due to poor weather.