53 NEWCOMERS took part in the re-scheduled first practice session of the Manx Grand Prix last night (Monday).
The race had been scheduled to take place on Saturday but rain cancelled proceedings and meant it had to be postponed.
Among the riders were newcomers from Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, the USA, France and Finland.
Also riding were experienced TT and MGP competitors including John Barton, Mark Parrett, Dean Harrison, Dave Madsen-Mygdal, Chris Palmer and Si Fulton.
Conditions for the speed controlled untimed lap were described as good with dry roads around the Mountain Course – however competitors were warned about bright sunlight and the strobe effects through the trees.
There were a number of incidents during the races however Stuart Osborne (Oak Tree), Dave Milling (Sulby Bridge), Gary Fowler (Sarah's Cottage) and Brian Gordon (Braddan Church) were all reported to be ok following incidents. However Tony Bakker was taken by ambulance to Noble's Hospital with a neck injury following an incident at Ballacraine.
The newcomers completed a short lap pulling into Parc Ferme and the session began for the Senior, Junior and Supertwin riders at around 7pm.
Dave Moffit and Andrew Brady were first away from pit lane with Andy Fenton clocking the fastest time of the night in the Junior Class – 19:52.86 (113.868) - on his opening lap with Paul Smyth (112.470) and Alan Jackson (111.407) posting the second and third fastest respectively.
Peter Symes (111.197mph) was fastest in the Senior Class ahead of Dave Milling (110.875) and Trevor Ferguson (109.677).
The Classic, Post Classic and Lightweight Class started set off in pairs from the start of pit lane at 7.40pm with TT riders Ryan Farquhar on a 1983 Suzuki F1 and Mark Buckley on the '81 Suzuki XR69 topping the Classic Superbike board with 113.516 and 112.486 respectively - with Farquhar's time the second fastest of the evening.
Brian Mateer ('91 Yamaha TZ) was fastest in the Junior Post Classic, posting 105.676 from Stuart Garton, also on a '91 TZ Yamaha second with 104.029.
TT riders Chris Palmer on a '72 Honda Drixon and Roy Richardson on the '68 Aermacchi with 100.274 and 96.794 respectively were the fastest two in the 350/250 session while Steve Linsdell on a 1970 Royal Enfield Seeley and Mark Herbertson on a '69 Matchless G50 the top two in the Classic 500cc.
Joe Phillips posted the fastest time in the Supertwins class (109.313) while Alistair Haworth (104.994) was the quickest Lightweight class rider.
The newcomers went out at the back of the final group with four newcomers – William Davison, Karl Foster, Stuart Hall and David Kennington – all posting 100mph laps and Portugal's Nuno Caetano just outside at 99.628mph.
Tonight's session sees the Classic, Classic Superbike, Junior Post Classic Lightweight and Newcomers B due to start at 6.20pm with the Senior, Junior, SuperTwin and Newcomers A scheduled to go out at 7.05pm.
