TT 2006: THURSDAY PRACTICE
Latest report from the Isle of Man;
Thursday afternoon June 1st
This afternoon’s practice session for the Isle of Man TT was halted
when a sidecar crashed and then went on fire. The course was opened to
allow the Fire Brigade to deal with the incident and so that the
sidecar and debris could be removed.
It happened at Rhencullen, about 16 miles from the start, and involved
the machine of Dave Molyneux, the outright sidecar lap record holder
and 11-times TT winner. The outfit crashed and shortly afterwards went
on fire. Molyneux and his passenger Craig Hallam were taken to Noble’s
Hospital, by helicopter, and the sidecar practice resumed after 40
minutes.
Molyneux has possible arm and chest injuries while Hallam was said to be suffering from friction burns.
Earlier, Guy Martin got the session underway with a lap of 126.799
miles an hour, from a standing start, on his Superbike Yamaha and
followed this up with a second lap of 124.771.
Although the weather was fine, the blustery wind which had been in
evidence at the start of Practice Week returned to pose a few problems
for the riders on the mountain section of the course.
Despite this, speeds were still well into the 120s with Ian Lougher’s
Honda lapping at 125.073 and 123.370. Bruce Anstey was also up there at
123.897 while Carl Rennie posted 123.897 and Adrian Archibald 122.152
and 122.373. Anstey’s Superbike Suzuki was to go even faster later in
the session, at 126.146, making the New Zealander the second fastest of
the afternoon.
John McGuinness, who set up an unofficial lap record the previous
evening, was also in the mix with a lap of 124.651 on his Honda and
also led the Superstocks.
Fastest speeds of the day – TT Superbike: Guy Martin, Yamaha, 126.799;
Bruce Anstey, Suzuki, 126.146; Ian Lougher, Honda, 125.073. TT
Superstock: John McGuinness, Honda, 122.359; Gary Carswell, Suzuki,
121.525; Guy Martin, Yamaha, 121.513. TT Supersport: Bruce Anstey,
Suzuki, 121.843; Ian Hutchinson, Kawasaki, 120.041; Chris Palmer,
Honda, 118.942. Sidecars: Nick Crowe/Darren Hope, Honda 110.113; Gary
Bryan/Colin Hardman, Baker Yamaha, 109.576; Simon Neary/Stuart Bond,
Baker Yamaha, 108.173.
Two solo riders were injured after crashing at Greeba Castle. David
Bell sustained a broken wrist while Robbie Silvester was said to have
leg fractures. He was taken to hospital by air ambulance. Keith Stewart
suffered knee and rib injuries after coming off at the 33rd Milestone.
There has not been any change in the condition of riders injured
earlier in the week. James Cornell and Jun Maeda are described as
‘critical’ while the medical report in respect of Seamus Greene said he
was critical but stable. Travelling marshal Keith Trubshaw was due to
be discharged from hospital today.
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