The honour of opening Saturday’s first, untimed, Bennetts TT practice session fell to Scotland’s Keith Amor and Steve Plater from Woodhall-Spa who were followed by the other 12 newcomers in a controlled lap behind the travelling marshal. Sweden’s Christer Miinen immediately stopped in the pits before eventually getting a controlled lap in later on in the session.

Gary Carswell (Bolliger Kawasaki) and Ian Lougher (Stobart Honda), led out the main practice with spectators also treated to the first sight of the returning Michael Rutter on MSS Discovery Kawasaki. Ian Hutchinson was fastest through the Sulby Straight at an unofficial 186 mph.

Later on in the session Roy Hanks and Dave Wells led out the sidecars with Klaus Klaffenboch registering the fastest time through Sulby at 145mph.

A total of 189 machines went through scrutineering. 58 Superbikes, 29 Supersports, 4 Senior, 34 Superstock and 64 sidecars.

Conditions for the first practice were described as fine and dry although there were reports of light rain on the mountain between the Ramsay Hairpin and Goosneck. Spectators had earlier been treated to a spectacular 20 minute Battle of Britain memorial with a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster flying over Douglas bay.

This monday sees the 1907 re-enactment taking place on the original race course starting at St Johns, with 100 classic bikes, including the original winning Norton V-twin ridden by Rem Fowler taking to the start line.

Next Bennetts TT practice session will be Monday evening.