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| TT News Scene - 2002 ISLE OF MAN TT PRACTICES BULLETIN No. 2 |
| 2002 ISLE OF MAN TT PRACTICES BULLETIN No. 2 | Submitted by: (enter name) May 25, 2002
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2002 ISLE OF MAN TT PRACTICES BULLETIN No. 2
Saturday May 25th - PM
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After the weather problems of this morning's first seassion, there was a rush
of riders seeking to get going on dry roads, though gusting winds still proved
a problem. Many of the top men were out early, though most opted to pull in
for adjustments after just a single lap. Their second laps were concluding as
the rain returned.
It was just like the great days of the late fifties when American Dwight Mitchell and Ashley Law set off in close succession on their MV Agusta and Moto
Guzzi machines respectively, both sounding magnificent as expected from
Italian exotica. Ashley said he hadn't been bothered by the wet in the
morning, but had had a fuel relay problem on lap one of the evening outing.
Dwight switched the front tyre and went to great detail ensuring everything
was fully lock-wired once more. He also has a hydraulic bike lift!
Bud Jackson had an exciting day. His 350 Suzuki seized in practice for the
pre-TT Classic meeting at Billown and on the Mountain Course he got no
further than Quarter Bridge before he nearly crashed when the gearbox
sprocket disintegrated.
Nick Jefferies reported his 600 as being very fast, but quick lappery was
handicapped by a seat which was breaking up and was adjudged to need
reinforcements despite Nick's recent diet.
Ryan Farquhar said he was going all right on his 400 but was getting blown
about a bit and felt the cold, while Ian Lougher caught a huge gust at Gorse
Lea -- the flat-out right-hander before Ballacraine.
North West 200 Production winner Bruce Anstey from New Zealand said he
had finally come down to earth but was having trouble reconverting to his 250
on which he stands a very good chance of victory. Rival Richard Coates was
turned away from scrutineering - another victim of the rule requiring
lower-run rear back chain guards.
Robert Dunlop had virtually a full service between laps with the Crossan
Honda. Jets and tyres were changed and attention given to a broken battery
mounting in the steering head.
Derek Whalley narrowly won the 350 class of the Single Cylinder race at the
pre-TT Classic meeting at Billown. The 250 went to David Smith.
Later in the session, reports reached race control of hail on the
Cronk-y-Voddy Straight, a fact which was greeted with less than enthusiasm
by the waiting sidecar crews. And with failing light, the organisers moved the
remaining solos and outfits through as quickly as possible.
Adrian McFarland was lucky that he slowed to check his machine. After
blaming a couple of early slides on cold tyres, he was comforted that his
check was sufficiently vigilant to spot oil pouring out of one side of his
engine.
Richard Quayle had his fingers firmly crossed as he set out on an exploratory
lap on Mark John's Honda. After a very costly double engine blow up at the
North West, he was hoping for some stability (and an understanding bank
manager!).
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