Isle of Man TT opening Superstock race cancelled due to poor visibility
Organisers called off Saturday’s opening Superstock race at the Isle of Man TT after poor visibility and worsening conditions made the Mountain Course unsafe for competition, reports BritPanorama.
Gary Thompson, the Clerk of the Course, took the decision shortly before half past eleven this morning following persistent low cloud over elevated sections of the 37.73-mile circuit. Racing had initially been set for an 11am start before officials implemented a one-hour delay due to visibility problems at higher points on the course.
A further postponement pushed proceedings back to 1pm, but conditions had worsened by then. “A revised schedule will be issued in due course,” organisers confirmed in a brief statement to teams and spectators.
Dean Harrison had been the clear favourite heading into the three-lap RL360 Superstock contest after recording a blistering qualifying performance on Friday. The Yorkshireman’s Honda Racing machine posted an average speed of 135.484mph around the circuit, establishing a new qualifying benchmark in the 1,000cc showroom category. Harrison came agonisingly close to eclipsing Peter Hickman’s outright lap record of 136.358mph, which has stood for three years. Gusty winds caught the 37-year-old as he crossed the final timing beam, denying him what would have been a historic achievement.
The postponement means tens of thousands of spectators who had gathered for the opening day of racing were left disappointed. Thompson’s focus now shifts to salvaging the Superstock race while also preparing for Sunday’s six-lap RST Superbike, scheduled for 1.30pm local time. Harrison holds the advantage in that premier category too, having topped qualifying with an average of 134.877mph, while Michael Dunlop, the 33-time TT winner from Ballymoney, sits second but faces a considerable deficit, finishing 26.8 seconds behind during practice.
The weather disruption adds to what has been a difficult week for the event. Daniel Ingham died on Wednesday following an incident at Doran’s Bend during qualifying, while all remaining sidecar racing has been cancelled after Ryan and Callum Crowe were injured in a crash.
As the anticipation of the TT unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of how the thrill of racing can be tempered by the whims of nature, leaving both competitors and fans grappling with disappointment. The mountain waits, but not today.
