With Tuesday's weather turning out just as poor as had been forecast, the race organisers will justifiably feel pleased that their decision to run the Newcomers and Senior Classic races yesterday has been vindicated. With 2 races complete and 4 to go, fans' focus now switches to Wednesday morning's combined Junior and Lightweight classic race.

The Junior Classic should be a fantastic contest, especially if the machines of some of the main protagonists hold together for at least a couple of laps. Fastest in practice was Ryan Farquhar on a Drixton Honda at 101.641mph but for many, race favourite will be the man from Blackpool who has won the race for the last two years running - Roy 'Boy' Richardson. Richardson also holds the lap record for this class at a staggering 102.794mph, set on lap 2 of last year's race.

2005 winner Chris McGahan cannot be discounted either, and but for a damaged gearbox last year he may well have pushed Richardson harder for top spot on the podium. As it was, McGahan was forced to settle for third but expect a titanic battle between these three Honda-mounted riders. They might not have it all their own way though - Junior Classic race record holder Bill Swallow managed over 99mph in practice and once again rides Dick Linton's 349 Aermacchi, hoping to add to his tally of 9 mountain course victories.

Machine failure is commonplace in the classic races and there are a number of other riders waiting to step into the wings should any of the Hondas or the Aermacchi expire. Another Honda rider, Foxdale's Rich Hawkins, was 4th quickest in practice on John Turner's mount and, like Swallow, lapped at more than 99mph. Few riders have managed a 100mph lap in the Junior Classic race but Hawkins has a great chance of troubling the favourites if the conditions stay dry.

TT stars Paul Coward and John Burrows are campaigning Hondas as well, both having lapped impressively in practice. Paul Dobbs cannot be discounted either on his Aermacchi and will be keen to make up for a retirement in the Senior Classic with a finish in the Junior.

Disappointingly, podium finisher in 2003 Doug Snow will not be lining up tomorrow after a high-speed crash at Alpine Cottage on Tuesday last week. The Ducati challenge will therefore be spearheaded by Chris Swallow, who impressed with 8th place in the Senior Classic. Also hoping for top-6 finishes will be Bob Price, Alan Oversby (who looked off the pace in practice) and Mark Parrett.

Junior Classic top 10 prediction:

1. Roy Richardson
2. Ryan Farquhar
3. Bill Swallow
4. Chris McGahan
5. Paul Dobbs
6. Mark Parrett
7. Paul Coward
8. Chris Swallow
9. Mark Herbertson
10. Allan Brew

The Lightweight Classic features a strong entry of 25 machines this year, dominated as usual by the Suzuki T20s. Pre-race favourite is probably Ewan Hamilton, who won this race last year and also in 2005. His practice times have not been particularly impressive but Hamilton has the experience and speed to be the man to beat.

Closest challengers for the victory could be Peter Wakefield, David Smith and Peter Richardson, who are not only all Suzuki mounted but have all tasted the champagne on the podium at some stage in recent years. David Smith has finished this race for the past 5 years running, 3 of them podium finishes, and is my tip for 2nd spot behind Hamilton if both machines last the distance. Wakefield was quicker than Smith in practice but reliability is so often more crucial than speed in this race.

Fastest in practice was comeback man Jonathan Cutts, who returns to the Island for the first time since 2005. Expect him to be in the shake-up after 4 laps, along with Peter Symes who seems to get quicker every year on his distinctive red Suzuki.

Best of the rest could well come from 'Bud' Jackson, Philip Shaw, Davy Morgan and perhaps Ian Rycroft on the Kawasaki but I expect machine trouble to afflict more than a few riders, which could give any of the 4 riders riding 4-stroke machines a shot at a top-6 placing. Quickest of the 4-strokes in practice was Graham Rickman on his little 247 NSU which he has raced here for a number of years. Sadly the machine has let him down on more than one occasion, but finishes in 2003 and 2004 prove that the bike can go the distance and a lap of 87.896mph in practice signals that the machine is no slouch when all is running well.

Tony Mason on the Honda and Pat Wynne on the Ducati have struggled for speed in practice but the other Ducati ridden by Bob Millinship may have a better chance of a top-6 placing. Millinship only managed a quickest lap of 79.7mph in practice but has raced this machine on the Island before and averaged much better speeds. If it is practice gremlins that are to blame, he could surprise a few people and sneak into the high 80s mph come raceday, provided the bike holds together.

Lightweight Classic prediction:

1. Ewan Hamilton
2. David Smith
3. Peter Richardson
4. Jonathan Cutts
5. Philip Shaw
6. Bob Millinship
7. Ian Rycroft
8. Graham Rickman
9. Bob Simmons
10. Mervyn Stratford