PRACTICE/QUALIFYING REPORT
MEDIABOX
Fast laps, fine weather and strong competition at the Manx Grand Prix.
MGP DAY 4
Positive vibes around the paddock this afternoon as the sun came out of hiding and graced the Manx Grand Prix paddock with its presence. A particularly busy holding area this evening with the first mixed qualifying session for both MGP and CTT competitors of the week, and plenty of spectators around as the Isle of Man welcomes many thousands of visitors to its shores for the newly revamped MGP and Classic TT two-week schedule.
Qualifying got underway on time once again with a mixed session which included both Classic TT Formula 1, MGP Supersport and Supertwin competitors for a 50-minute session. This enabled MGP riders to hopefully complete a good number of laps on both Supersport and Supertwin machinery, especially if they were competing in both classes.
The new Manx Grand Prix format is seen as a big improvement over the past three years for competitors, with a significant increase in seat time on the Mountain Course. A competitor with one bike can now compete in two races, for example, a Supertwin Aprilia RS660 can enter both the Supertwin and the Junior MGP races, rather than just one as was the case over the past three years. The Manx Grand Prix has also adopted next-generation Supersport rules for the Supersport and Senior MGP races, similar to BSB, the Southern 100 and the Isle of Man TT. This means the next-generation Supersport bikes such as the Ducati Panigale V2, MV Agusta F3 800, GSX-R750 and Triumph Street Triple RS, which were previously excluded, are now eligible. This is a fantastic step forward for MGP competitors, as a rider with a Supersport and a Supertwin machine can now compete in all four MGP races, which brings about an immense amount of bike time on the most famous motorcycle racing course in the world.
SUPERSPORT/SENIOR
The MGP competitors once again set off in pairs this evening. First away in the Supersport class was 2024 Manx Grand Prix runner-up Chris Cook on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, alongside Michael Mace. Cook immediately led the pair off down Glencrutchery Road, over St Ninian’s and down Bray Hill to get lap one underway. Next away were Jamie Williams and Rad Hughes, followed by Ryan Whitehall and Tom Snow. The conditions were perfect, which was reflected in the lap times as Chris Cook, on lap two, completed the fastest MGP lap of the week so far, breaking into the 18-minute bracket with an impressive 119.196mph (18:59.53). Second was 2024 MGP Irish newcomer Caomhan Canny with a lap of 118.697mph (19:04.32) on his GSX-R750, followed by Jamie Williams, who also set a 118mph lap.
Pre-TT and Southern 100 winner, and local ARA Isle of Man ACU Centre Champion, Grant Thomson once again impressed with a lap of 117.171mph (19:19.22), giving him the fifth-fastest time of the night and putting him in a fantastic position on his MGP debut with another qualifying session still to come. Other notable performances from newcomers this evening came from Swiss rider Matthieu Pauchard on a 636 Kawasaki with a 112mph lap, and Roadhouse Macau’s Brandon Kavanagh, who lapped at over 107mph.
Fastest on the night through the Sulby speed trap was Canny (No. 16) with a speed of 167.89mph.
Unfortunately, newcomer Eddy Wormald, who has been putting in some impressive lap times so far this week, crashed his Supersport machine at Cruickshanks. Rider reported as OK.
SUPERTWIN/JUNIOR
Caomhan Canny, who had already impressed in the Supersport class, set the fastest lap of the night in the Supertwin session with 112.973mph (20:02.30) on his Aprilia RS660. However, this was still short of the overall fastest Supertwin lap times of the week, which were set on Tuesday evening with Andy Farrell leading the way on his Aprilia. Jamie Williams was second, Michael Gahan third, and Harley Rushton, a Classic TT newcomer in 2024 who made a dream debut winning the Classic Junior race, has now moved onto modern machinery and is making his Manx Grand Prix debut in the Supertwin class. He was an impressive fourth with 112.835mph (20:03.77) on his Kawasaki ER650.
Fastest on the night through the Sulby speed trap in the Supertwin class was once again Michael Gahan (No. 7) with a speed of 155.378mph on his Scott Racing Aprilia RS660.
The final MGP qualifying session is tomorrow, getting underway at 13:00 with roads closing at 12:30 around the Mountain Course. Both the Supersport and Supertwin classes are really close at the top of the leaderboard, making it impossible to predict who the front runners will be. With the weather looking good for the weekend and Bank Holiday Monday, we are set for some thrilling racing at the 2025 Manx Grand Prix.
Mediabox with photos and PDF results are available above, or you can view individual results from today on our 2025 RESULTS PAGE
END.
WORDS : Lee & Carol Bartram | Photos : DAVE KNEEN / TONy GOLDSMITH
WORDS : Lee & Carol Bartram | Photos : DAVE KNEEN / TONy GOLDSMITH