No fewer than five races have been scheduled for Thursday on top of two additional qualifying sessions as organisers attempt to squeeze in every race this week following the lengthy rain delays. After losing Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday to rain, action looks set to resume on Thursday with a bumper day of racing, ahead of Friday’s blue-riband Senior TT.
The air is alive with the sound of BIKES and for the first time in three days, we're going to go racing. It's been a frustrating fortnight on the island, but today looks to be the best chance of racing in terms of the weather and as such, we have five races to bring you in an action-packed day.
We're starting off with the superbike and superstock qualifying, and with the stockers due out later today, most riders have elected to go with those instead of the superbikes.
However, unsurprisingly we've got at least a five-minute delay as they close up the roads.
Superbike/Supersport qualifying: Nearly everyone is heading out on the superstock machines, except Peter Hickman and John McGuinness.
Hickman actually rode his superstock bike in the opening superbike race as both practice sessions on his Smiths Racing BMW superbike resulted in breakdowns, but with the quality of that bike already proven, Hicky is hoping to give it one last go on the superbike this afternoon in the hope of working out its issues.
McGuinness meanwhile is on the Norton V4 that retired at the end of the first lap of the superbike race with an oil pressure problem.
Superbike/Supersport qualifying: Well Hickman's made it through Glen Helen on the superbike and is setting the pace alongside Harrison - it's just like a race! The two have been the men to beat on the big bikes and you've got to favour them for the superstock race later this afternoon.
Hickman was 4:20 to Glen Helen, two seconds faster than Harrison and another two seconds faster than Michael Dunlop.
Superbike/Supersport qualifying: Hickman again edges the sector between Glen Helen and Ballaugh, though Conor Cummins - who's also out on the superbike - is running the same pace through the second sector. The only other rider on a superbike out there is No 46 Paul Jordan, who showed well during Monday's running.
Superbike/Supersport qualifying: Hickman clocks 193.4mph through the Sulby speedtrap, the fastest of any bike out there. His pace is looking good on the superbike and it makes you wonder if he'll run it in tomorrow's Senior instead of the modified superstock.
Lee Johnston, Monday's supersport race winner, has retired on his superstock just after Ballagarey due to a mechanical failure.
Superbike/Supersport qualifying: It's fair to say the superbike is making the difference as Hickman is two seconds faster per sector than Harrison on the superbike, with Cummins on the Padgetts Honda superbike the next fastest over the mountain.
Superbike/Supersport qualifying: As the bikes emerge from Governer's Dip, they're given the chequered flag across the line and Hickman clocks 131.29mph from a standing start - not bad for a bike that wouldn't make it round earlier in the week!
Superbike/Supersport qualifying: It seems the issues with the Norton have not gone away as the Morecombe Missile is well off the pace, clocking six minutes and eight seconds for the run to Glen Helen that is about two minutes more than it should be. As he comes through the Grandstand, it's a 105.66mph lap for McGuinness, and that's big problems to solve with the Norton.
So that gives us about 25 minutes until the start of the Monster Energy Supersport Race Two, with a 12:55pm start confirmed by clerk of the course Gary Johnson.
Looking back on Monday's opening race, the supersports provided some fantastically close racings as the 600s powered around the island.
The race had to be halted at the end of the second lap as rain closed in on the west side of the island, and it was Lee Johnston who emerged triumphant after an entertaining battle with James Hillier and Peter Hickman.
Will it be more of the same today? With the lack of running and two-lap shootout, I reckon so.
Monday's Monster Energy Supersport Race One results
Supersport race two: The top 10 are all away safely, but Daniel Cooper is missing at 14 as he hasn't made the start - clearly there's an issue there with the KTS Racing supersport machine.
Early problems for Ian Hutchinson too, as the 16-time TT winner has stopped at Quarterbridge just a mile into the course to make adjustments. That'll wreck his race already.
Supersport race two: The leaders on the road reach Glen Helen and who will it be out in front? It's Hillier ahead of Harrison once again, by just 0.354s! Gary Johnson slots into third on the Triumph with Cummins fourth and Dunlop fifth, but where will Hickman and Johnston register? Here they come, and it's first for Hickman! A flying start for the Tropper Triumph, with Johnston moving ahead of Cummins for fifth.
Races are not shown live from the TT, so the best way to follow the action as it happens is with local radio or The Independent’s live blog throughout the event. Radio coverage is provided by Manx Radio over the fortnight, while live timing is available through the official www.iomttraces.com website.
Thursday’s schedule
11:50pm:Superbike/superstock qualifying (1 lap)
12:45pm: Monster Energy Supersport Race Two
1:50pm: Locate.IM Sidecar Race Two (2 laps)
2:55pm:RL360 Superstock Race (3 laps)
6:30pm: Bennetts Lightweight TT (2 laps)
7:20pm:TT Zero (1 lap)
8pm:Senior practice (1 lap
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