Stewart and Anderson top MGP & Classic TT afternoon session

All classes head out in busy timed practice

Johnny Stewart and Shaun Anderson set the fastest Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT times respectively during a busy afternoon of timed practice for both events this afternoon (19 August).

During today's contingency session featuring all classes across both meetings, Stewart set the first 120mph lap of this year's MGP to top the Senior/Supersport MGP standings at 120.36mph.

Meanwhile, Anderson managed to just move clear in the Classic TT Formula 1 timings in a hotly-contested field at 122.822mph with that pace the fastest lap across both events to this point.

Before those, It was Stewart who also set the Sportbike MGP benchmark at 114.997mph ahead of Andrew Farrell (113.465mph) and Liam Chawke (112.982mph) who rounded out the top three in the class.

Meanwhile, Mike Browne was the man to beat on the popular Lightweight 250cc machines, storming clear with a best lap of 116.639mph, just under 47 seconds clear of the nearest quickest rider, Stuart Hall (112.13mph).

For the new-look Ultra-Lightweight section featuring both 400cc and 125cc machinery, local man, Paul Cassidy set the fastest pace at 106.065mph, with Joseph Loughlin (105.657mph) going second-quickest just under five seconds further back.

In the Junior 600 Classic TT class, just three-tenths of a second separated the top times of Michael Russell (114.5mph) and Brian McCormack (114.468mph).

Rounding things out and despite some minor disruption initially due to poor weather, the Historic Junior and Historic Senior Classic TT competitors also got a brief outing, with Dominic Herbertson (98.284mph) and Michael Dunlop MBE (105.69mph) setting the fastest respective laps for both categories before rain closed in to bring the afternoon to an end.

As it stands, roads around the Snaefell Mountain Course are due to reopen no later than 4.30pm before closing again tonight at 6pm ahead of more qualifying for both the MGP and Classic TT this evening.

Once again, all classes across both events are due to get timed practice during tonight's session - afterwards, roads around the course will reopen for a final time no later than 9pm.

All timings remain subject to change depending on prevailing conditions and circumstances.