Preston's Alan Jackson served notice that he will be the man to beat in next week;s Manx Grand Prix by topping the speeds in Monday evening’s practice session.

Riding Martin Bullock's 750cc Suzuki he was first off in the Senior class and on his second lap went round in 19 minutes 48.43 seconds, an average speed of 114.292mph. It was a long way short of his own MGP outright fastest lap of 122.208 mph but sufficient to head the field in the first tryout for the main races. For good measure, he was also second fastest in the Junior class, where he did 113.814mph on the 600cc W.A. Corless Honda.

Six-times TT winner Ian Lougher from Dromara, Northern Ireland, returned to the MGP and headed the speeds in the Junior Classic. Riding a 350cc Honda for Davies Motorsport, he lapped at 97.604mph. And twice TT winner Chris Palmer from Castletown was the quickest in the Senior Classic. Riding Fred Walmsley's 500cc Manx Norton, he lapped at 102.674mph.

Alan Oversby (400cc Honda) from Bolton-le-Sands was best in the Ultra Lightweight class at 103.600; Stuart Garton from Scunthorpe (250cc Honda) topped the Ultra Lightweight class at 108.251mph; Derek Brien (600cc Kawasaki) the Junior at 114.237mph; Geoff McMullan (250cc Suzuki) from Co. Down the Lightweight Classic at 92.497mph; Mats Nilsson (600cc Yamaha) from Sweden the 750cc Newcomers’ class at 105.028mph; and Barry Poll (400cc Yamaha) from Spalding the 125/400cc Newcomers at 98.458mph. A total of 297 machines were scrutineered.

There were four incidents during the session. Wayne Kirwan from Drogheda, Eire (750cc Suzuki) crashed at Sarah's Cottage and suffered a knee injury; Bart Crauwels from Belgium (350cc Classic Honda) crashed at Union Mills and sustained a leg injury; Adrian Elwood from Lisburn (500cc Classic Honda) crashed at Braddan Bridge and also received a leg injury; and Terry Crane from Santon (250cc Honda) crashed at the 33rd Milestone. All four were taken to Noble's Hospital.

The next practice session takes place at 6.15 on Tuesday evening, August 22nd.