Ryan Farquhar and Dave Molyneux set the pace as TT 2012 officially burst into life tonight (Saturday).

The opening practice session was delayed due to communication difficulties between three of the sectors around the course.

But it wasn’t long before fans saw some action with solo newcomers first out on a speed controlled lap before a qualifying session for the lightweight Supertwin class.

It was all wrapped up with a controlled lap for sidecar newcomers and a free qualifying session for sidecar machines.

After his success at the North West 200, Northen Irishman Ryan Farquhar was expected to go quick and he didn’t disappoint.

He topped the leaderboard with an impressive 113.359mph lap in the Lightweight SuperTwin class, closely followed by Adrian Archibald and Cameron Donald who both broke the 112mph barrier.

Jamie Hamilton, competing on behalf of Ryan Farquhar’s KMR team, was the quickest newcomer on his escorted lap in a time of 106.015mph.

Fourteen-time sidecar champion Dave Molyneux and passenger Patrick Farrance laid down an early marker in the sidecars with the quickest lap of the night (110.831mph), followed by Conrad Harrison and Mike Aylott (108.364).

Gary Bryan and Gary Partridge were the third quickest.

The pairing of Carl Fenwick and Mark Sayers were the quickest newcomers - ninth quickest overall – in a time of 100.442mph.

There were no serious incidents.

The next practice is on Monday evening (May 28).