Dean Harrison set the pace on the first night of timed practice for the 2026 Isle of Man TT, clocking a 133.925mph lap that was the fastest ever opening-day effort on the 37.73-mile Mountain Course. He also put together two 133mph laps on Tuesday night, underlining how quickly the benchmark moved once qualifying finally got going again.
That is why the result matters tonight, and why riders such as John Mcguinness, Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman will be studied closely when the times are checked again. Harrison was the only rider to go above 130mph at the first attempt after Monday’s opening session was cancelled by a red flag, and the gap he opened up was enough to make him the one everyone else had to chase.
Dunlop was next best in the Superbike field with a 130.341mph best average, while Nathan Harrison was the third and final Superbike rider to break the 130mph mark on Tuesday night. Hickman, still recovering from injuries sustained 12 months ago in a practice crash, finished seventh in the class, and Josh Brookes topped the Superstock times with the night’s fourth and final 130mph lap. Dunlop was also fastest in Supersport on his factory-backed Ducati V2 Panigale, and Paul Jordan led the newly renamed Sportsbike class.
The session did not keep that smooth rhythm for long. Halfway through the Sidecar class’s first timed run, the red flags came out after Maria Costello and Shaun Parker came off at Brandish on their second attempt. Costello was taken to Noble’s hospital by helicopter with head injuries, while Parker went by ambulance with leg and arm injuries. Both were reported conscious and talking, but the crash cut across the night just as the speed at the top of the qualifying sheets was building.
Qualifying is due to resume on Wednesday under a new daytime schedule that will see roads close at 12.30pm, before Thursday’s rest day. After a first week that has already been interrupted by a cancelled opening session and now a sidecar crash, the next question is whether anyone can answer Harrison’s first-night marker with a lap even close to it.
