TT 2016: Hutchinson and Dunlop blitz outright lap record

Bingley Bullet Hutchinson clocked the fastest time of the night in glorious conditions with a new unofficial outright lap record of 132.803mph (17m 02.781s), set on his Tyco BMW Superstock machine.

Ulsterman Dunlop was second quickest overall on his Hawk Racing BMW Superbike, lapping at 132.754mph (17m 03.156s).

McGuinness’s record lap, set in last year’s Senior on lap two as he slowed for fuel, stands at 132.701mph.

Dunlop’s final effort on Friday night was a staggering lap of 132.413mph from a standing start on the S1000RR, which would easily equate to a new 133mph record with the estimated 7-10 seconds advantage gained on a flying lap.

Mountain great McGuinness is officially the fastest rider ever from a standing start, blazing his way to a 131.8mph opener to set up his stunning victory last year in the blue riband Senior race.

Dunlop also shone on his Superstock machine, lapping at 131.879mph from a standing start.

The Ballymoney man had been up on Hutchinson’s unofficial outright lap record on his flying lap but had lost time as he reached Ramsey, with Dunlop dropping further back over the Mountain, ending the lap some nine seconds off Hutchy’s benchmark

and raising the probability that he encountered slower moving traffic.

Both riders are clearly in top form heading into Saturday’s six-lap RST Superbike race, which is scheduled for an 11am start.

Dunlop topped the Superbike charts courtesy of his 132.754mph lap, with Yorkshireman Hutchinson second fastest at 132.413mph and Dean Harrison third quickest on the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki (129.96mph).

Michael Rutter figured prominently again on the Bathams SMT BMW at 129.613mph to go fourth on Friday ahead of Manx favourite Conor Cummins, who topped 129.499mph on the Honda Racing Fireblade.

Cummins edged team-mate McGuinness, whose best time on Friday was 129.206mph as the Morecambe man rounded out the top six on the leaderboard.

William Dunlop is clearly finding his groove on is new Yamaha R1 as the 30-year-old lapped at 128.928mph from a standing start to head Aussie David Johnson in eighth, who clocked 128.533mph on the Norton SG5.

Johnson was also the fastest rider through Sulby at 194.5mph ahead of Michael Dunlop, who broke the beam at 192.8mph on his fearsome standing start Superbike lap.

Jackson Racing’s Steve Mercer (128.364mph) and Gary Johnson on the Penz13.com BMW were the top ten, with Johnson lapping at 128.533mph.

Kiwi Bruce Anstey’s best lap on Friday was 127.252mph on the Valvoline Padgetts Honda RC213V-S.

The 10-time TT winner came off at Keppel Gate on Thursday evening and admitted he was feeling second hand.

Hutchinson’s unofficial outright lap record on the Tyco BMW gave him the top spot in the Superstock class ahead of Monday’s four-lap race.

The 36-year-old, also on 11 TT victories following his treble last year, was 7.2 seconds up on Dunlop, who set his fastest ’stocker lap of 131.879mph from a standing start.

Bradford rider Harrison was third fastest at 128.947mph ahead of Fermanagh’s Lee Johnston on the East Coast/Burdens BMW – third in the Superstock race last year – who lapped at 128.607mph.

James Hillier (Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki) and McGuinness on the EMC Bet Victor Honda were next, lapping at 128.134mph and 128.092mph respectively.

Peter Hickman did 127.972mph on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

Harrison led the way in the Supersport class with a red-hot lap of 126.249mph ahead of Cummins on the Valvoline Padgetts Honda (124.353mph) and McGuinness on the Jackson Honda, who clocked 123.863mph.

Hickman (Trooper Beer Kawasaki) and William Dunlop on his Yamaha were next, lapping at 123.402mph and 123.120mph respectively.

Hutchinson retired at the Gooseneck as he attempted to put in a lap on the Came BPT Yamaha.