Anstey clocks fastest lap in qualifying

After a week of delayed, curtailed and cancelled practice sessions the last outing before the start of race week came as a relief to most of the competitors.

A road accident at Ginger Hall held back Friday evening's scheduled start by about 20 minutes, but once under way the qualifying ran like clockwork.

The conditions could hardly have been better, and the solo riders quickly made the most of it.

On his second lap Guy Martin became the first man at TT 2011 to break the magical 130 mile an hour barrier.

He told Manx Radio TT's Chris Kinley his bike had been almost perfect from the start (listen to audio file below):

Guy Martin's average for that lap was 130.075 miles an hour, and it didn't take the rest of the front-runners long to start clocking up similarly impressive speeds.

Michael Dunlop managed 130.024 and John McGuinness put in a lap at 130.615 miles an hour, but right at the end of the session Padgett's Honda mounted Bruce Anstey recorded easily the fastest lap of the week.

He went rund the historic circuit in 17 minutes, 13.46 seconds, an average speed of 131.431 miles an hour.

On the Supersport bikes no one could top Michael Dunlop's Tuesday night speed of 125.464 miles an hour, although Cameron Donald is just behind him on 125.110 and Bruce Anstey managed 124.236.

Scotland's Keith Amor was out on his Superport bike to ensure he qualified, after missing Thursday's practice through a shoulder injury picked up in a highside at Quarterbridge on Wednesday.

He says he's not 100 per cent but should be race fit.

Ryan Farquhar took a tumble at Keppel Gate and had to be air-lifted to Noble's Hospital but his condition was not causing any concern.

Klaus Klaffenbock and Dan Sayle were the picture of cool in the sidecar class, completing one lap to bed their race engine in, then returning to the pits to chill out.

Their Wednesday night speed of 113.754 miles an hour proved unassailable, with Tim Reeves coming the closest at 113.321, and John Winkle only just behind at 112.707.

The stage is now set for Saturday's Dainese Superbike TT and the Sure Sidecar Race 1.

Roads from Ramsey Hairpin to Creg-ny-Baa are due to close at 10.30am, and the rest of the course half an hour later.

The six-lap Superbike TT is scheduled to start at 12 noon, and the sidecar race, over three laps, at 3pm.

There will be full, live commentary on Manx Radio TT.