It was a hectic weekend for the world champion from Kent and his passenger Patrick Farrance who had to miss the final qualifying session and also pre-race warm-up at Donington Park on Saturday and Sunday so they could fly back and forth to the Island for the compulsory novice lap on Saturday evening.

Once that was out of the way Reeves and Farrance completed a further lap on their own before calling it a night and prepared to fly back to the mainland ahead of their world championship race on Sunday.

Tim was amazed at the speed they could travel at around the roads and enthused about his experience after his first lap of the gruelling 37.73-mile mountain course.

“That was absolutely fantastic, I can see why everyone has raved about the TT. I have never experienced anything like that anywhere in the world. It’s an awesome course and I can’t wait to get back out there.”

Monday evening’s sidecar practice was cut short because of an accident in one of the solo classes and there was only time for Reeves and Farrance to get one lap in before the light gave out.

But the world champions lived up to their reputation and recorded the 12th fastest time of the session - 21m 49.59s – 103.718mph –possibly the fastest ever time for a sidecar newcomer in the first timed practice, record books are being checked to verify this.

Tim may be a newcomer to the TT course but Patrick is an old hand having passengered a number of times in the past. He said: “Tim has approached the TT in a very professional manner and spent most of the winter learning the circuit as best he could. He has also spent a lot of time on the Island going around the course in a car and I am sure he will improve even further as the week goes on and we will both be raring to go come Saturday afternoon. We had a fantastic ride out last night and hopefully the weather will hold for tonight’s practice.”

The sidecars take to the track at 8pm tonight, weather permitting. Its not looking too good on the web cam at the Bungalow but the mist may clear in time for practice.