LAWSON AND HODSON SHOW EARLY FORM IN SECOND MANX GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING SESSION

Tonight's qualifying session for the IMGold Manx Grand Prix got underway shortly after 6.25 with a speed-controlled lap for newcomer Leon Murphy, before the session got underway in earnest at around 6.35.

First to experience the excellent conditions around the Mountain Course were SuperTwin, Lightweight and Newcomers B (650/250) and C (400).

Wigan's Rob Hodson continued his fine form from the previous evening to post the fastest SuperTwin lap (109.251) from Gary Gittins (108.575) and James Neesom (108.481). Dean Osborne (104.537 and 104.366) posted the fastest two newcomer B laps with Eddie Venn also posting a pair of 100+mph laps (102.839 and 101.263).

Seven riders posted laps of over 100mph in the Lightweight session with the Isle of Man's Adam Jones (101.807) the fastest from Ireland's Mick Jordan (101.794) and Rikki McGovern (101.518).

Ahead of the second session, Clerk of the Course Phil Taubman advised the riders that there would be waived and stationary yellow flags at Ballaugh following an oil spill.

In the second session, Scotland's Andy Lawson again signalled his intent with the fastest lap of the evening (116.332) on the Kawasaki that he'll race in the Senior Manx Grand Prix while Andrew Soar (114.128) and Paul Smyth (113.068) also signalled their intent.

Hodson also topped the Junior leader board with a lap of 116.144 from James Neesom (114.095) and Stephen Harper (112.762) while Shane Egan in the Newcomers A again showed that he'd be the man to beat with 111.836. Billy Redmayne (110.893) and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas (110.494) also posted quick laps, building on their performances from the previous night and already signalling that this year's Newcomers A Race, which is scheduled to take place on Monday 25th August, is likely to be competitive.

Barry Furber (Quarterbridge), Dave Matravers (Sulby) and James Buckett (Braddan Bridge) were all reported OK after accidents during the session while Stephen Carr was taken by ambulance to Nobles Hospital with a possible ankle injury.

Pictures by Dave Kneen

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