FREE PRACTICE SIGNALS OFFICIAL START OF TT 2025

Free Practice for the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races finally got underway on Tuesday evening, with untimed sessions for all classes. Heavy overnight and morning rain gave way to sunny intervals, allowing for a full-length session on the Mountain Course.

Several damp patches remained around the course, including Braddan, Laurel Bank, Glen Helen, the 11th Milestone, Glentramman, and Keppel Gate - but it was the Sidecars who were first out, starting slightly later than scheduled at 6:35pm.

Leading the field were last year’s double victors Ryan and Callum Crowe, the Manx duo tipped for top honours this year aboard the Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda. They were followed by expected challengers Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley (AWB Engineering DDM Honda) and Ben Birchall/Patrick Rosney (Hager/Wyckham Blackwell LCR Honda).

Ryan and Callum Crowe, the Manx duo tipped for top honours this year aboard the Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda

Other podium hopefuls included Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie (Team ARC/SJH Bodyworks LCR Kawasaki), Lewis Blackstock and newcomer passenger Oscar Lawrence (Dave Holden Racing LCR Yamaha), and 2022–23 World Champions Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement (Brookland Sand & Aggregates CES Yamaha).

The Crowes were the first to complete a lap, however they opted to pull in after one lap, though the 35-minute session allowed crews the option of two. One team that didn’t get that opportunity was Ellis/Clement, who stopped at Kerromoar.

Crawford/Hardie continued for a second lap and now led on the road, as did Birchall/Rosney at a slightly slower pace. Newcomer and double British Champion Stephen Kershaw, with Rhys Gibbons in the chair, also completed a second lap after making adjustments.

At 7:20pm, the Supersport and Supertwin session took to the 37¾-mile course. Most front-runners opted to go out first on their Supersport machines - among them Dean Harrison (Honda Racing), Davey Todd (Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles Honda), James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki), Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing powered by Prosper2 Honda), and Ian Hutchinson (MLav Racing Yamaha).

Davey Todd began the session on the supersport

Two notable exceptions from the “big four” were Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman, who chose different paths. Dunlop led the session away on his MD Racing Paton, joined by Mike Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing Yamaha), who quickly pulled ahead and led on the road.

Browne led the lap, but Dunlop was close behind, making his first pass of the newly named ‘MD’s’ corner on closed roads. Fittingly, he passed the corner just before the 27th Milestone riding the Paton he claimed his 27th TT victory – and on the 27th May.

Following them was a tight group of top contenders - Harrison, Todd, Hillier, Hutchinson, Brookes, Conor Cummins (Burrows Engineering by RK Racing Ducati), and James Hind (North Lincs Components Suzuki). Also back on the Mountain Course for the first time since 2022 was two-time winner Gary Johnson (Team Schleizer Dreieck Suzuki).

One high-profile retirement on the opening lap was Brookes’ teammate Paul Jordan. Browne, however, continued into a second lap, as did Harrison, Todd, Hutchinson, and Cummins. Dunlop pulled in before heading back out on his Milwaukee Ducati, while Hickman also returned to switch to his Trooper Triumph by PHR Performance Supersport mount.

Mike Browne completed 2 laps on the Supertwin

After completing two laps on the 600cc Yamaha, Browne squeezed in a lap on the KMR Kawasaki he’ll ride in the Supertwin races. Todd did the same on his new Milenco by Padgett’s Paton but stopped at Ginger Hall, ending his evening early and losing out on valuable big bike track time.

The evening concluded at 8:15pm with a 35-minute Superbike and Superstock session, giving riders a chance to complete two more laps of the Mountain Course. Brookes and Hind led the charge, followed by David Johnson (Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki), Jordan, Hillier (Muc-Off Racing Honda), and Phil Crowe (Crowe Performance BMW). Dunlop was out on his MD Racing BMW Superbike, while Hickman initially ran the Monster Energy by 8TEN Racing Superstock BMW.

Peter Hickman initially ran the Monster Energy by 8TEN Racing Superstock BMW

Brookes, Hind, Johnson, and Jordan completed the lap together, with Dean Harrison gradually closing in. All but Brookes went straight through, while the Australian returned on his Superstock Honda. Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda) and John McGuinness MBE (Honda Racing) also got additional laps in before the session closed.