Tourist Trophy: ancora John McGuinness nel secondo giorno di prove

Nel segno di John McGuinness le prime prove del Tourist Trophy 2011. L’edizione del centenario del “Mountain Circuit” ha visto il leggendario 15 volte vincitore al TT confermarsi anche nella seconda giornata di attività di martedì 30 maggio, spiccando il miglior crono assoluto tra le Superbike in 17’32.59 (129.041 mph, 207.67 km/h) con la Fireblade di Honda TT Legends (ex-HM Plant). McGuinness, che nell’ora e mezza a disposizione si è alternato anche in sella alle Honda Superstock e Supersport di Padgett’s, viaggia già vicino alle 130 mph di media, trovando per il momento in Guy Martin il suo più diretto inseguitore. Passato a Relentless Suzuki by TAS, il pilota di Kirmington (ancora alla ricerca della prima affermazione al TT) ha fermato i cronometri sul 17’39.00 (128.261 mph) tra le Superbike, ben figurando anche tra le Stock dove ha conseguito il quarto tempo assoluto. Tornando alla top class, scorrendo la classifica Cameron Donald (oggi con la Honda del Wilson Craig Racing) è terzo a precedere Gary Johnson (confermatosi ad alti livelli dopo le prove di lunedì) e Michael Dunlop che ha percorso i primi 2 giri del Mountain Course con la Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R ufficiale del Mondiale Superbike preparata dal Paul Bird Motorsport. Con Bruce Anstey (Padgett’s Honda) 6° davanti a Keith Amor con la seconda Honda TT Legends, non è stata una sessione fortunata per Conor Cummins (al ritorno dopo il drammatico incidente del Senior TT) che si è fermato a “Greeba Castle” con la nuova Kawasaki del team McAdoo. Stessa sventura poco più tardi per Michael Rutter, in gara con la stessa Ducati del BSB, in prossimità di “Quarter Bridge”. Per i nostri colori Stefano Bonetti, che sta prendendo contatto con la nuova Kawasaki ZX-10R, è buon 17° proprio davanti a Cummins e Archibald, 26° nelle prove del martedì. Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy Dainese Superbike, Classifica Prove martedì 31 maggio 01- John McGuinness – Honda TT Legends – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’32.59 (129.041 mph) 02- Guy Martin – Relentless Suzuki by TAS – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 17’39.00 (128.261 mph) 03- Cameron Donald – Wilson Craig Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’40.42 (128.089 mph) 04- Gary Johnson – Lincs Lifting Ltd – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’43.51 (127.717 mph) 05- Michael Dunlop – Street Sweep – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 17’55.44 (126.300 mph) 06- Bruce Anstey – Padgetts Motorcycles – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’55.91 (126.245 mph) 07- Keith Amor – Honda TT Legends – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’58.72 (125.916 mph) 08- Daniel Stewart – Wilcock Consulting – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’59.62 (125.811 mph) 09- William Dunlop – Wilson Craig Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 18’10.12 (124.599 mph) 10- Michael Rutter – Riders Motorcycles – Ducati 1098R – 18’14.21 (124.134 mph) 11- Ryan Farquhar – KMR Kawasaki – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 1 18’14.94 (124.051 mph) 12- Ian Mackman – Kemtile Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 18’30.89 (122.270 mph) 13- Dan Kneen – Marks Bloom Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’31.23 (122.232 mph) 14- John Burrows – John Burrows Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 18’43.34 (120.915 mph) 15- Jim Hodson – Al Gibson Pete Beale – Yamaha YZF R1 – 18’46.94 (120.528 mph) 16- Robert Barber – Shipley Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 18’47.89 (120.427 mph) 17- Stefano Bonetti – Speed Motor – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’48.06 (120.409 mph) 18- Conor Cummins – McAdoo Kawasaki Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’49.99 (120.203 mph) 19- Scott Wilson – Diamond H Servlite – BMW S1000RR – 19’01.65 (118.975 mph) 20- Paul Shoesmith – Ice Valley BMW Motorrad – BMW S1000RR – 19’04.05 (118.726 mph) 21- John Barton – Marks Bloom Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’04.09 (118.721 mph) 22- Mark Parrett – C & C Ltd Vines – BMW S1000RR – 19’06.63 (118.458 mph) 23- Stephen Thompson – T & R Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – 19’07.57 (118.361 mph) 24- Paul Owen – Paul Owen Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’09.78 (118.134 mph) 25- Gary Carswell – Carswell Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’16.34 (117.464 mph) 26- Adrian Archibald – AMA Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’18.80 (117.215 mph) 27- Alan Connor – Connor Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’20.03 (117.090 mph) 28- Roger Maher – Slick Performance – Yamaha YZF R1 – 19’26.01 (116.489 mph) 29- David Hewson – Ch’Ien Acupuncture Clinic – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’26.66 (116.424 mph) 30- Ian Pattinson – Ian Pattinson Racing – BMW S1000RR – 19’26.87 (116.404 mph) 31- Simon Andrews – Ice Valley BMW Motorrad – BMW S1000RR – 19’28.18 (116.273 mph) 32- Simon Fulton – Fulton Racing – Yamaha YZR R1 – 19’28.81 (116.211 mph) 33- Steve Heneghan – Quattro Plant Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – 19’29.29 (116.163 mph) 34- Jules Croft – Jules Croft Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’29.48 (116.144 mph) 35- George Spence – Ayton Smiddy Ltd – Yamaha YZF R1 – 19’30.18 (116.074 mph) 36- Sandor Bitter – KMR Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’31.51 (115.943 mph) 37- Russ Mountford – Northpoint Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’32.22 (115.873 mph) 38- Alan Bud Jackson – Mike Smith BDS Fuels – Yamaha YZF R1 – 19’35.52 (115.548 mph) 39- Steve Mercer – WA Corless Jackson Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’39.68 (115.140 mph) 40- Michael Russell – Top Gun Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’41.49 (114.963 mph) 41- David Paredes – Argentine Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’41.64 (114.949 mph) 42- Chris Petty – Dave Milling Motorcycles – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’42.36 (114.879 mph) 43- Herve Gantner – Rhino Universal – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’52.48 (113.904 mph) 44- Fabrice Miguet – Team of Paris – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’52.49 (113.903 mph) 45- Betlej Piotr – Piotr Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’55.86 (113.582 mph) 46- Ian Lougher – Blackhorse Kawasaki Motors UK – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’59.63 (113.225 mph) 47- David Madsen Mygdal – CSC Branson Racing – Yamaha YZF R1 – 20’03.66 (112.846 mph) 48- Mark Herbertson – Ladycross Racing – Yamaha YZF R1 – 20’06.02 (112.625 mph) 49- Dean Harrison – P.R.S. Racing – Yamaha YZF R1 – 20’06.68 (112.564 mph) 50- Paul Duckett – West London Superbikes – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 20’08.39 (112.404 mph) 51- Toni Rechberger – MSC Rottenegg – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 20’16.12 (111.690 mph) 52- Daniel Hegarty – thepeoplesbike.com – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 20’27.91 (110.617 mph) 53- Adrian Clark – BHR Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 20’41.88 (109.373 mph) 54- Brian McCormack – TAG Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 21’02.90 (107.553 mph) 55- James Ford – James Ford Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 21’19.42 (106.164 mph) 56- James McCullagh – McCullagh Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 21’53.35 (103.421 mph) 57- Lee Vernon – Vernon Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 22’37.89 (100.029 mph) Nelle prove della “Solo” iniziate con 10 minuti di ritardo (dalle 18:30 alle 19:55), i principali protagonisti del Road Racing si sono alternati in sella alle varie moto a disposizione con il risultato di trovare tra le Superstock Gary Johnson al comando. Passato alle Honda dell’East Coast Racing, Johnson ha conseguito un best time provvisorio di questa classe in 17’43.51 (127.717 mph) meglio di Michael Dunlop, Bruce Anstey, Guy Martin e John McGuinness come detto con Padgett’s Honda tra Stock 1000 e 600 Supersport. Nella top-10 anche Ryan Farquhar (con la Kawasaki andata… in fumo alla North West 200), Keith Amor (con una Honda “privata” per la Superstock), Adrian Archibald (su BMW) ed il portoghese Luis Carreira mentre Bonetti è 15° con un parziale di 18’48.06 (120.409 mph). Tra i “newcomers”, piloti all’esordio al TT, Simon Andrews è sempre il più veloce con le BMW preparate dal team Ice Valley, mentre il pluri-campione francese Superbike e del Mondiale Endurance Guillaume Dietrich ha esordito con la seconda GSX-R 1000 di Relentless Suzuki by TAS. Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy Royal London 360 Superstock, Classifica Prove martedì 31 maggio 01- Gary Johnson – Lincs Lifting Ltd – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’43.51 (127.717 mph) 02- Michael Dunlop – Street Sweep – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 17’55.44 (126.300 mph) 03- Bruce Anstey – Padgetts Motorcycles – Honda CBR 1000RR – 17’55.91 (126.245 mph) 04- Guy Martin – Relentless Suzuki by TAS – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 18’00.40 (125.720 mph) 05- John McGuinness – Padgetts Motorcycles – Honda CBR 1000RR – 18’11.33 (124.461 mph) 06- Cameron Donald – Wilson Craig Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 18’11.45 (124.447 mph) 07- Ryan Farquhar – KMR Kawasaki – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’14.94 (124.051 mph) 08- Keith Amor – KBMG Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 18’20.37 (123.439 mph) 09- Adrian Archibald – AMA Racing Team – BMW S1000RR – 18’20.39 (123.436 mph) 10- Luis Carreira – CD Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’26.34 (122.772 mph) 11- Ian Mackman – Kemtile Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 18’30.89 (122.270 mph) 12- Dan Kneen – Marks Bloom Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’31.23 (122.232 mph) 13- Ian Lougher – Blackhorse Kawasaki Motors UK – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’44.35 (120.805 mph) 14- Robert Barber – Shipley Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 18’47.89 (120.427 mph) 15- Stefano Bonetti – Speed Motor – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’48.06 (120.409 mph) 16- Daniel Stewart – Wilcock Consulting – BMW S1000RR – 18’48.88 (120.321 mph) 17- John Burrows – Burrows Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’55.48 (119.622 mph) 18- Mark Buckley – Energy Armor Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 18’56.92 (119.470 mph) 19- Michael Rutter – Riders Motorcycles – Ducati 1098R – 18’57.70 (119.388 mph) 20- Scott Wilson – Diamond H Servlite – BMW S1000RR – 19’01.65 (118.975 mph) 21- Paul Shoesmith – Ice Valley BMW Motorrad – BMW S1000RR – 19’04.05 (118.726 mph) 22- John Barton – Marks Bloom Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’04.09 (118.721 mph) 23- Mark Parrett – C & C Ltd Vines – BMW S1000RR – 19’06.63 (118.458 mph) 24- Stephen Thompson – T & R Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – 19’07.57 (118.361 mph) 25- Paul Owen – Paul Owen Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’09.78 (118.134 mph) 26- Gary Carswell – Carswell Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’16.34 (117.464 mph) 27- James Hillier – Bournemouth Kawasaki – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’16.48 (117.450 mph) 28- George Spence – Ayton Smiddy Ltd – Aprilia RSV4 – 19’19.24 (117.170 mph) 29- Alan Connor – Connor Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’20.03 (117.090 mph) 30- David Hewson – Ch’Ien Acupuncture Clinic – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’26.66 (116.424 mph) 31- Ian Pattinson – Ian Pattinson – BMW S1000RR – 19’26.87 (116.404 mph) 32- Simon Andrews – Ice Valley BMW Motorrad – BMW S1000RR – 19’28.18 (116.273 mph) 33- Simon Fulton – Fulton Racing – Yamaha YZF R1 – 19’28.81 (116.211 mph) 34- Steve Heneghan – Quattro Plant Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – 19’29.29 (116.163 mph) 35- Russ Mountford – Northpoint Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’32.22 (115.873 mph) 36- Alan Bud Jackson – Mike Smith BDS Fuels – Yamaha YZF R1 – 19’35.52 (115.548 mph) 37- Steve Mercer – WA Corless Jackson Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’39.68 (115.140 mph) 38- Michael Russell – Top Gun Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’41.49 (114.963 mph) 39- David Paredes – Argentine Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’41.64 (114.949 mph) 40- Chris Petty – Dave Milling Motorcycles – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 19’42.36 (114.879 mph) 41- Herve Gantner – Rhino Universal – Honda CBR 1000RR – 19’52.48 (113.904 mph) 42- Fabrice Miguet – Team of Paris – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 19’52.49 (113.903 mph) 43- Yoshinari Matsushita – Matsushita Racing – BMW S1000RR – 20’00.88 (113.107 mph) 44- Daniel Cooper – Centurian Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 20’03.14 (112.894 mph) 45- Mark Herbertson – Ladycross Racing – Yamaha YZF R1 – 20’06.02 (112.625 mph) 46- Dean Harrison – P.R.S. Racing – Yamaha YZF R1 – 20’06.68 (112.564 mph) 47- Paul Duckett – West London Superbikes – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 20’08.39 (112.404 mph) 48- Toni Rechberger – MSC Rottenegg – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 20’16.12 (111.690 mph) 49- Mark Miller – Splitlath Motorsport – Aprilia RSV4 – 20’17.04 (111.605 mph) 50- Rico Penzkofer – Penz13 BMW Racing Team – BMW S1000RR – 20’24.22 (110.950 mph) 51- Hudson Kennaugh – Splitlath Motorsport – Aprillia RSV4 – 20’27.65 (110.641 mph) 52- Robert Wilson – WA Corless Jackson Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 20’49.79 (108.681 mph) 53- Adrian Clark – BHR Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 20’58.87 (107.896 mph) 54- Brian McCormack – TAG Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – 21’02.90 (107.553 mph) 55- James Ford – James Ford Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 21’19.42 (106.164 mph) 56- James McCullagh – McCullagh Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 21’53.35 (103.421 mph) 57- Lee Vernon – Vernon Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 22’37.89 (100.029 mph) 58- Guillaume Dietrich – Relentless Suzuki by TAS – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 23’43.06 (95.448 mph) Passando alla classifica della Supersport Michael Dunlop, che proprio in questa categoria riuscì a vincere la sua prima (e finora unica) gara al TT nel 2009 chiudendo 3° e 2° lo scorso anno, si ritrova subito al comando con la propria Yamaha R6 davanti a Bruce Anstey (che con Honda Padgett’s è salito sul podio alla NW200 poche settimane or sono) e al fratello William con la Honda Wilson Craig Racing. Diversi “big” non hanno ancora girato all’Isola di Man con le 600cc, si è portato avanti con il lavoro John McGuinness in 5° posizione con Stefano Bonetti 22° con la stessa Honda con la quale ha impressionato nelle ultime edizioni del TT. Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy Monster Energy Supersport, Classifica Prove martedì 31 maggio 01- Michael Dunlop – Street Sweep – Yamaha YZF R6 – 18’02.60 (125.464 mph) 02- Bruce Anstey – Padgetts Motorcycles – Honda CBR 600RR – 18’13.31 (124.236 mph) 03- William Dunlop – Wilson Craig Racing – Honda CBR 600RR – 18’50.41 (120.158 mph) 04- Gary Johnson – East Coast Construction – Honda CBR 600RR – 18’53.61 (119.820 mph) 05- John McGuinness – Padgetts Motorcycles – Honda CBR 600RR – 18’54.35 (119.741 mph) 06- Luis Carreira – CD Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 18’58.87 (119.265 mph) 07- James Hillier – Bournemouth Kawasaki – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 18’59.37 (119.213 mph) 08- Dan Kneen – Marks Bloom Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’02.34 (118.903 mph) 09- Daniel Stewart – Wilcock Consulting – Honda CBR 600RR – 19’05.57 (118.569 mph) 10- Ian Lougher – Blackhorse Kawasaki Motors UK – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 19’07.28 (118.391 mph) 11- Ben Wylie – Wylie Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’07.43 (118.376 mph) 12- Simon Fulton – Fulton Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’09.01 (118.213 mph) 13- Roy Richardson – Barnes Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’10.45 (118.066 mph) 14- Derek Brien – RC Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’12.74 (117.830 mph) 15- Jim Hodson – Al Gibson Pete Beale – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’13.15 (117.788 mph) 16- Conor Cummins – McAdoo Kawasaki Racing – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 19’13.15 (117.788 mph) 17- Mark Buckley – Energy Armor Racing – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 19’15.86 (117.513 mph) 18- Robert Barber – PRB Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 600 – 19’26.37 (116.453 mph) 19- Ian Pattinson – Merlin Sidecars – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’28.19 (116.273 mph) 20- Ivan Lintin – Ivan Lintin Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 600 – 19’29.64 (116.128 mph) 21- Ian Mackman – Kemtile Racing – Triumph Daytona 675 – 19’31.89 (115.905 mph) 22- Stefano Bonetti – Speed Motor – Honda CBR 600RR – 19’33.17 (115.779 mph) 23- John Burrows – John Burrows Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’35.52 (115.547 mph) 24- Mark Parrett – Vixen Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’41.46 (114.966 mph) 25- Russ Mountford – Northpoint Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 19’47.11 (114.419 mph) 26- Gary Carswell – Carswell Racing – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 19’48.89 (114.248 mph) 27- Mark Miller – TC Racing – Honda CBR 600RR – 19’59.52 (113.235 mph) 28- Robert Wilson – Stoddart Racing – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 20’00.27 (113.164 mph) 29- Bill Callister – Kaka Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 20’08.67 (112.378 mph) 30- Paul Owen – Team #98 – Yamaha YZF R6 – 20’09.89 (112.264 mph) 31- Dean Harrison – Bell Yamaha – Yamaha YZF R6 – 20’13.93 (111.891 mph) 32- Brandon Cretu – HEL Performance – Yamaha YZF R6 – 20’16.65 (111.641 mph) 33- Maria Costello – CMS Costello Racing – Yamaha YZF R6 – 20’17.71 (111.544 mph) 34- Herve Gantner – Rhino Universal – Honda CBR 600RR – 20’20.87 (111.255 mph) 35- David Madsen Mygdal – Quayside Tyre Centre – Yamaha YZF R6 – 20’38.07 (109.710 mph) 36- Samuel Dunlop – Crossan Motorcycles – Yamaha YZF R6 – 20’40.07 (109.532 mph) 37- Daniel Hegarty – Crosslane Garage – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 20’56.86 (108.069 mph) 38- Allan Brew – Mike and Dawn Jacobs – Kawasaki ZX-6R – 21’36.97 (104.727 mph) 39- Michael Russell – Top Gun Racing – Honda CBR 600RR – 22’31.71 (100.486 mph) 40- Lee Vernon – Vernon Racing – Triumph Daytona 675 – 22’47.50 (99.326 mph) Purtroppo le prove dei Sidecar, in programma dalle 20:00 alle 20:50 locali, sono state subito interrotte per un “grave incidente” (riportando alla lettera quanto comunicato dai commissari e dalla radio ufficiale del TT, Manx Radio) a “Ballacrye” dell’equipaggio #15 Bill Currie/Kevin Morgan: immediati i soccorsi, si saprà qualcosa di più nelle prossime ore. Il programma del Tourist Trophy proseguirà mercoledì 1 giugno per la terza giornata di prove con le prime due gare in agenda per sabato 4 con Superbike e la prima manche proprio dei Sidecar. Alessio Piana