HOLDEN/WINKLE TOP THE SIDECAR QUALIFYING BOARD AHEAD OF FIRST RACE AT 2016 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

As the sun continued to shine well into the Manx evening, the Sure Formula Two Sidecar competitors at the 2016 Isle of Man TT had their final shakedown before Saturday’s opening three-lap race, John Holden and Andy Winkle reasserted themselves at the top of the leaderboard as they recorded the fastest lap of the week at 115.349mph.

Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle were first away again with the Birchall brothers next to go ahead of Holden/Winkle, Ian and Carl Bell, Alan Founds/Aki Aalto and Gary Bryan/Jamie Winn.

Holden/Winkle were clearly on a flyer and soon grabbed the lead on time although the Birchalls led on the road and it was they who crossed the line first with a speed of 114.657mph, the third fastest of the week.

However, Holden’s 115mph+ lap was not only the quickest of the night it was also quicker than the lap of 114.827mph set by Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance the previous evening. The Kent driver did just one lap on the night at a leisurely 100.046mph as he used the session to bed everything in prior to the race.

The Bells were again going well and their lap of 113.206mph shows it won’t be a three-horse race come Saturday whilst other drivers again going well were Peter Founds/Jevan Walmsley at 112.024 and Alan Founds/Aki Aalto on 110.209mph.

They were the only outfits to lap at more than 110mph but Matt Dix/Shaun Parker posted their best lap of the week with a speed of 109.506mph.

The Birchalls pitted only to get to Union Mills on their second lap whilst Founds/Walmsley proved to be the quickest crew on the second lap, improving their speed to 112.184mph.

Douglas Chandler/Julie Canipa were reported to have had an accident at Sarah’s but were confirmed to be uninjured while Stephane Hubert, passenger to Dan Knight, sustained lower leg fractures in an accident at Barregarrow and was taken by airmed to Nobles hospital for treatment.

John Holden and Andy Winkle carried on their dominance of the Sure sidecar qualifying sessions

Ben and Tom Birchall recorded their quickest time of the week on Friday’s qualifying session

DAVE KNEEN/PACEMAKER PRESS, BELFAST

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