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| TT News Scene - 2002 ISLE OF MAN TT PRACTICES BULLETIN No. 1 |
| 2002 ISLE OF MAN TT PRACTICES BULLETIN No. 1 | Submitted by: (enter name) May 25, 2002
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2002 ISLE OF MAN TT PRACTICES BULLETIN No. 1
Saturday May 25th - AM
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* After an absence of two years, TT racing returned to the Isle of Man at dawn
this morning. But it was a rather soggy start, with competitors facing
intermittent heavy showers, standing water and gusty winds for the opening
session. Delayed by an hour, riders were warned to go very steadily, and duly
complied. The honour of opening the meeting went to Robert Price of
Gloucester (400 Yamaha) and Dean Harrison of Onchan, Isle of Man, (600
Yamaha), while first sidecar crew were Keith Walters and Gary Masterman
from Neath in Wales. Just one untimed lap was accomplished before the flag
was put out. The next scheduled practice is this evening at 6.15pm.
* One of the Big Six star riders thought to be "keen" to have a splash round
was Scotsman Iain Duffus. Just a week after winning the main superbike race
at the North West 200 on the V&M Yamaha, his mechanics had his Putoline
600 Production Suzuki ready for an exploratory gallop. But in the end, there
was no sign of its jockey and the bike was put away again!
* Sidecar stars Dave Molyneux and Roy Hanks were spotted in the
scrutineering bay, but neither expressed any interest in having a lap,
preferring to wait for better weather.
* New regulations regarding chain guards caught out quite a few solo riders
at scrutineering. It will mean a day of aluminium fabrication to satisfy the
requirement that the rear wheel sprocket be guarded against the possibility
of fingers or feet being drawn into the drive in the event of an accident.
* The organisers? breathalyser was out early at signing-on, but random tests
showed no offenders in initial testing. The procedure was first used at the
2000 Manx Grand Prix, where over 100 tests were carried out ? again all
negative.
* Isle of Man resident Neil Hodgson maintained his recent good form by
topping the first day's practising times at the first British round of the World
Superbike Championship at Silverstone. Riding his HM Plant Ducati, he
showed strongly on the full grand prix track, with fellow Islander Steve Hislop
seventh on the Monstermob Ducati on which he leads the British Superbike
series.
* The first few sidecars through scrutineering were the initial "tenants" of
their new practice week paddock - the Pit Lane. Although pressure on space
was not at a premium on the first morning, the freedom they enjoyed was
welcomed, and it is certain to ease the pressure of overcrowding in the top
paddock when the full field of solos and sidecars are practising in the same
session.
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