Dean Harrison opened the 2026 Isle of Man TT in record fashion on Tuesday night, setting a 133.925mph lap on the first night of timed practice. It was the fastest ever opening-day effort around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course and gave the qualifying week an immediate benchmark.
That is why the search for Michael Dunlop was quick to follow. Dunlop finished second in the Superbike class with a best average of 130.341mph, while Nathan Harrison was third and the final rider in that class to break 130mph on the night. Peter Hickman was seventh in Superbike, Josh Brookes topped the Superstock standings with the night’s fourth and final 130mph lap, Dunlop was fastest in Supersport on his factory-backed Ducati V2 Panigale, and Paul Jordan led the renamed Sportsbike class.
Harrison’s pace did not come out of nowhere. He also recorded two 133mph laps on Tuesday, giving him the sort of early form that can shape the rest of TT qualifying before the field even settles into its rhythm. Monday’s opening session had already been cancelled because of a red flag, so the opening timed run carried added weight on a week that had started in stop-start fashion.
The night was not clean all the way through. Sidecar racing was red-flagged halfway through the first timed session after Maria Costello and Shaun Parker came off at Brandish on their second attempt. Costello was taken to Noble’s hospital by helicopter after reporting head injuries, while Parker was flown there by ambulance with leg and arm injuries. Both were reported as conscious and talking.
For the solo riders, though, Tuesday night established the first real order of the 2026 TT. Harrison set the standard, Dunlop sat close enough to keep the pressure on, and the rest of the leading names began the week knowing exactly how fast the benchmark had already been pushed. Qualifying was due to resume on Wednesday under a new daytime schedule, with roads closing at 12.30pm, before Thursday’s rest day gives everyone a pause to absorb what the opening session has already made clear.
