Overcast conditions, damp patches, mist and an earlier diesel spill from Braddan Bridge to Kirk Michael all contributed to a severely reduced final practice at the Manx Grand Prix on Saturday night.

The two proposed practice sessions were run together with modern bikes at the front, starting from the pit lane exit, and the classic machines following from the pit lane entrance.

The session began almost an hour late, shortly before 7.15pm, with Dan Sayle on his 600cc Junior machine and Peter Symes on his Senior bike. Sayle’s opening lap of 104.467 was the fastest for most of the evening before Paul Smyth went round in 106.316. Michael Moulai was the fastest Senior competitor of the evening with 104.459.

In total, 91 riders went out for the session and times were considerably down on the previous evenings, with many of the competitors electing not to go out.

Mark Buckley on the Suzuki XR69 in the Senior Post Classic Class went close to posting a 100mph lap with 99.871, while Michael Dunlop, with an extremely conservative lap by his standards, recorded 99.343mph.

Chris Palmer went round in 98.372 for the fastest Junior Classic time of the evening.

The Manx Grand Prix Races start on Monday August (30) at 10.15am with the Newcomers and Post Classic (Senior and Junior) Races with the Junior and Lightweight Classic starting at 1.15pm and a practice session and Vintage Motorcycle Club Parade following after the races.