The TT got underway today! :olaf: Although due to bad weather the qualifying sessions were moved to tomorrow afternoon.
https://www.iomttraces.com/racing/page/schedule
Hickman, one of the favorites this year, is out after a bad 140mph crash at Karrowmoar Friday evening. He has back, shoulder, chest and facial injuries.
Tom Weeden was also injured in a big crash Friday. He clipped a wall with his bars and slid feet first into a wall at Glen Helen during qualifying. He said, "I went underneath the barriers and hit the wall feet first. Somehow only 'walked away' with left leg tib / fib, dislocated and smashed up ankle on right leg, broken T12 vertebrae, broken hand and a messed up little finger. I feel extremely lucky to be here at all."
Harrison, Dunlop, and Todd are running fast so far.
In the sidecars, Founds/Walmsley had the second fastest time but went airborne at Rhencullen during Sunday qualifying and their rig burst into a fireball causing a red flag. Surprisingly both were not seriously injured and were released from the hospital. There is a remote possibility they could rebuild their outfit if they are fit enough to run and make the 2nd sidecar race on Thursday, but not likely.
The Crowes have been running fastest during practice and qualifying.
Crappy weather during the first week caused the schedule to be pushed out so qualifying wasn't finished until Sunday. Race week got underway today.
Some great racing this past week when weather permitted. The only let down was the canceling of the Senior race on Saturday due to wind (the first time that's happened since 1957). Dunlop added to his wins total record which now stands at 33, sweeping the Supersport and Supertwins races. His Supersport win was the first TT win for Ducati since 1995, and made it eight in a row in the class for Dunlop. He has now won on 7 different brands.
In Friday's Superstock race 2, Mark Parrett, making his 98th start, had a bird strike which broke his arm. A post from the team said, "A local seagull lay in wait for 'The Parrett' on the approach to the 33rd and hit Mark on the left arm, he soon realised that it was rather serious when he tried to pull in the clutch and his left hand wasn't working."
Also on Friday, Michael Rutter had a bad crash in Supertwins 2 and was taken to the hospital. He's been racing the TT for over 30 years! I saw him when I was there for the '06 event.
Can't wait for TT 2026!