Tonight's Manx Grand Prix practice session started as planned.

The roads closed at six o’clock with the classic, the post classic, the ultra lightweight and the newcomers B all ready to go as planned.

They will be followed by the senior, the junior, the lightweight and the newcomer A competitors approximately one hour later.

Tonights practice is due to finish shortly after eight o'clock.

Conditions for the penultimate practice session of the 2009 Manx Grand Prix were described as wet by the Clerk of the Course with strong winds on parts of the course.

Whilst it was fine at the Grandstand and the sun was shining, roads were wet all round the course, Phil Taubman warned competitors to ride within their capabilities.

The first session this evening was for Classic, Post Classic, Ultra Lightweight and Newcomers B.

1829 and the machines were away, with 79 Karl Fox and 89 Anita Buxton first away.

Colin Martin on his Ultra Lightweight Honda was first to complete a lap followed by the wonderful sounding MV Agusta of Alan Oversby. Speeds as expected are well down, Colin lapping at 94.312mph and Alan at 93.769mph.

John Burrows described conditions as ‘Roads wet all over the Mountain and very windy, especially at Windy Corner. He wouldn’t want to race in such conditions.’

1910 the session was ended as the Senior, Junior, Lightweight and Newcomers A prepared for the penultimate session off at 1915.

Junior competitors Kirk Farrow and Steve Moody were first away in the second session of the evening.

Ryan Kneen was first back at 95.995mph.

Despite the conditions a total of 298 machines went through Technical Inspection.

Senior Classic: 30
Junior Classic: 60
Senior: 22
Junior: 63
Lightweight / Ultra Lwt: 64
Newcomers: 38
Post Classic: 21

The 350 MV Agusta was quickest in the Junior Classic practice at 93.769mph and whilst most riders were happy with one lap, Andy Reynolds and Adam Easton both went for a second circuit.

Jonathan Cutts headed the Lightweight Classic at 87.529mph, whilst in the Senior Classic it was Alan Oversby again at 101.644mph on the Italian MV.

Newcomers B was topped by Adrian Kershaw with a speed of 96.658mph, as Philip McGurk lapped at 99.171mph to lead the Post Classic 2-Strokes, with Ryan Farquhar topping the 4-stroke division at 101.918mph.

Keith Costello was quickest in the Ultra Lightweight at 100.225mph

Stephen McIlvenna topped both the Senior and Junior Manx Grand Prix categories with a speed of 105.602mph; Roy Richardson the Lightweight at 96.789mph; Newcomers A by Leo Fitzgerald at 97.366mph.

Two incidents were reported this evening; Tim Carrington was off at Windy, whilst Neil Brown slipped off at Whitegates, both OK.

The final practice session of the 2009 Manx Grand Prix takes place tomorrow evening, Saturday 29th August with roads closing at 1800hrs.

Yep it certainly rained tonight. At Whitegates I'm sure the rain drops were as big as snowballs..