RACE PREVIEW: SURE LIGHTWEIGHT MGP

Unlimited capacity single-cylinder machines and 4-stroke machines up to 400cc are now eligible, resulting in a bumper entry of over 60 riders for 2023.

Reigning champions Laylaw Racing have a three-pronged attack for the race, with all three riders capable of winning including last year’s victor, Mike Browne, who starts at number 3.

That puts him ten seconds behind ten-time TT winner and team-mate Ian Lougher, who finished second to Browne last year and assumes the number 2 plate this time around. Just like 2022 though, it’s Dominic Herbertson who is set to start from number 1 but he has yet to confirm his team and machine.

At number 5 is one of the pre-race favourites in the form of James Hind. He led last year’s race before being forced to retire with just two miles to go, so will be determined to make amends this year on the Dennis Trollope Racing Yamaha.

The same applies to Michael Dunlop, the 25-time TT winner also failing to finish last year’s race. He’s back for another go on his MD Racing Honda as he aims to add the Lightweight Race to his haul of victories around the TT Mountain Course.

Number 7 sees the third Laylaw Racing Yamaha of Adam McLean get his race underway and it’s a welcome return for the Tobermore rider, as he makes his first appearance on the Mountain Course since finishing second to Lee Johnston in the 2018 Lightweight Classic TT.

Following McLean down Bray Hill will be Dan Sayle (Baz Gas, Honda) whilst at number 9 it’s Rhys Hardisty on the Willson & Wilding/Kaymac Yamaha. He finished fourth last year so will be hoping to crack the top three in this year’s 3-lap race. Pierre-Yves Bian completes the top 10 on his Bianteam Yamaha.

Wakefield’s Stuart Hall took a fairytale and emotional third-place finish last year and lines up at number 12 for 2023 on his Whippet Racing Yamaha, ten seconds ahead of Michal Dokoupil (Cookson Travel, Yamaha) with the Czech favourite all set to make his debut in the class.

Chris Moore, winner of the 1996 Newcomers Race and podium finisher at the Classic TT, starts at number 14 on the Outhwaite Plant/Silverstar Yamaha with Paul Jordan taking the number 15 plate on a 450cc Faraldo Racing Yamaha.

Gareth Arnold (Jenarracing, Yamaha), Shaun Anderson (ARD, Kramer) and Adrian Morris (PVS Car and Van Sales, Yamaha) complete the seeded riders.

Outside of the top 20, Gary Vines (Atherstone Accident and Repair Centre, Yamaha) can be expected to feature up the leaderboard, whilst Tom Snow (Golden Site Solutions, Honda) is expected to be one of the leading Moto3 machines, with Dan Ingham, Jonathan Perry, Michael Rees and veteran David Madsen-Mygdal expected to be the 400cc front runners.

The top 20 for the Sure Lightweight Race – scheduled to take place over 3-laps on Friday 25th August at 14:40 – is as follows: