MGP 2024: Lightweight race top-20 confirmed

Four-stroke bikes will once again race alongside two-stroke machines

The top 20 seeded riders for this year's Lightweight race at the Manx Grand Prix have been announced.

Joey Thompson is set to lead the way at No.1 on the Seventy Four Racing Yamaha TZ250 - a machine which forms the majority of the first 20 riders in the class.

In behind Thompson are Laycock Racing duo Ian Lougher and Mike Browne - Browne and Lougher have taken first and second respectively in the class in both 2022 and 2023.

Elsewhere, two potential frontrunners in James Hind and Michael Dunlop will set off at No.5 and No.6 respectively.

There's a Manx trio at No.9, No.10 and No.11 in 2023 Senior MGP winner Joe Yeardsley and two of the Island's top TT competitors, Michael Evans and Nathan Harrison.

The returning Lee Johnston is also in the top-20 on the Reed Racing Honda RS250 at No.13.

Along with the two-stroke machinery the category now sees four-stroke 400cc supersport and Moto3 bikes also eligible to take part.

The three-lap Lightweight MGP race is currently scheduled for 1.30pm on Friday, 23 August.

You can view the Lightweight MGP top 20 in full below:

1.) Joey Thompson - Yamaha TZ250 (Seventy Four Racing)
2.) Ian Lougher - Yamaha TZ250 (Laycock Racing)
3.) Mike Browne - Yamaha TZ250 (Laycock Racing)
4.) Shaun Anderson - TBC (TBC)
5.) James Hind - Yamaha TZ250 (Dennis Trollope Racing)
6.) Michael Dunlop - Honda RS250 (MD Racing)
7.) Dominic Herbertson - TBC (TBC)
8.) Paul Jordan - TBC (TBC)
9.) Joe Yeardsley - Kawasaki ZXR400 (Neil Wood Painting and Decorating)
10.) Michael Evans - KTM RC390 (Atherstone Accident Repair Centre)
11.) Nathan Harrison - Honda RVF400 (H&H Motorcycles)
12.) Chris Moore - Yamaha TZ250 (Outhwaite Plant/iHeat/Silverstar)
13.) Lee Johnston - Honda RS250 (Reed Racing Honda)
14.) Gareth Arnold - Yamaha TZ250 (Jenarracing)
15.) Dan Sayle - Honda RS 250 (John Chapman Racing)
16.) Stuart Hall - Yamaha TZ250 (Whippet Racing)
17.) Rhys Hardisty - Yamaha TZ250 (Phil Anslow Coaches/Kaymac)
18.) Maurizio Botallico - Kawasaki ZX4RR (TBC)
19.) Michael Dokoupil - Yamaha TZ250 (Cookson Travel)
20.) Michael Sweeney - Yamaha TZ250 (CSC Racing/IMS)