Classic TT: Dunlop off and running Suzuki XR69

Michael Dunlop finally completed a lap on the Team Classic Suzuki at the Classic TT after being hit by three successive engine blow-ups.

Dunlop’s speed of 124.920mph from a standing start was the second fastest overall with Bruce Anstey’s 125.486mph mark from Thursday remaining the quickest lap of the week.

Dunlop is riding Lee Johnston’s Suzuki machine after Johnston was ruled out of Monday’s Motorsport Merchandise Superbike race after sustaining hand injuries in a sidecar crash at Jurby, when he was the passenger in an F2 Yamaha driven by Dean Harrison.

Johnston, though, still hopes to compete in the Junior race on Monday on the Black Eagle Racing MV Agusta.

Behind Dunlop, Jamie Coward was second fastest on Friday evening on the Mistral Kawasaki (124.012mph) with team-mate Dan Kneen lapping at 122.792mph in third.

Racing commences on the Isle of Man on Saturday with the Bennetts Senior race (11.30am) and the Dunlop Lightweight race (3.30pm) over four laps.

Josh Brookes is among the favourites in the Senior race on the Winfield Paton after setting the fastest lap in practice at 109.509mph. Brookes was called into the team to make his Classic TT bow after last year’s winner John McGuinness was ruled out through injury.

In the Lightweight race, last year’s winner Anstey is the clear favourite after unofficially setting a new lap record on Wednesday on the Padgetts Honda RS250 at 118.812mph.

A full course red flag was declared after Scunthorpe rider Mark Foster crashed at Hailwood Heights on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. He was taken by ambulance to Noble’s Hospital with leg injuries.

The session was then called off due to debris on the course at the scene and deteriorating visibility.