NW200 and Donington Park BSB
It’s finally here, it’s the best two weeks of the year and look at the weather… Glorious! There’s no better place on the planet than here on the Isle of Man at Mile 9 in the sunshine. If you’re joining us over the next two weeks then we can’t wait to see you but if you’re not then get booked in for next year, you won’t be disappointed in what we have to offer.
As we write this the figures are set around the first two nights of practice so will likely be bettered by the time the newsletter is published but the main thing is the boys are out on the island roads enjoying themselves and wow, they’re fast already! Michael Dunlop has taken the practice week by the scruff of the neck and shown his intentions for 2023. Fastest in all four classes on Monday night, the Bull was in no mood for compromise as he hit a stunning 131.782mph lap on his Hawk Racing Honda CBR1000RR-R as well as an unofficial lap record aboard his Paton Supertwin at 122.907mph. Topping the Superstock and Supersport times made it a great opening for the 21-time race winner.
Milenco by Padgetts Racing’s Davey Todd was in a buoyant mood as the action got underway, hoisting a huge wheelie off the start gate to get his 2023 TT off in style. A best lap of 129.920mph on his Honda CBR1000RR-R was a strong opening for the Saltburn rider, backed up with top fives on the Superstock and Supersport machines.
Dom Herbertson will contest the Superstock, Superbike, and Supertwin classes in 2023 and has had a cracking start to all three with a 124.366mph lap on the Stocker and 116.821mph on his JM Patterson/CC Engineering Kawasaki Z650. Also on a Z650 in Supertwins is Yorkshireman Jamie Coward, KTS by Steadplan rider was second fastest with a 119.758mph lap, backed up with a 129.060mph lap aboard the team’s Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, a switch from the Yamaha R1 of 2022.
Speaking of Yamaha R1s, OMG Racing’s James Hillier is once again flying the flag for the tuning fork brand at the Isle of Man TT races. After a learning year aboard the machine last year, it’s a good start for the Ringwood man at 128.198mph on the Superbike and 120.607mph on the BPE/Russell Racing Yamaha R6. Traditionally a steady starter, James has hit the ground running on the big bike and will be looking to add to his podium tally and incredible finish percentage across the six races he contests.
In the sidecar line-up, the Birchall boys stamped their authority on the event with a rapid
118.318mph lap on their Honda LCR while Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes rolled out a 112.338mph lap on their Bonovo/Carl Cox Yamaha LCR outfit. Like the solos, times will drop over the week and will we see the first 120mph lap of the TT for a sidecar outfit? Time will tell…
The younger riders are feeling their way into the week as you’d expect. Joey Thompson had a great beginning to the week aboard his Supersport 74 Racing/Genertech Yamaha R6, the only series he’s running in 2023 while James Hind quietly went about his business on his North Lincs Components GSX-R1000 Suzuki at 123.019mph but only managed a single lap on the Bass Tyre Services Supersport Yamaha R6 on Monday evening. Plenty more to come from all our UGGLY Bunch riders!
Make sure you catch our Uggly&Co pop-up shop in thetrade area for all your Uggly&Co and Black Dub merchandise as well as supported rider merch, too!
