Tyco BMW’s Ian Hutchinson started his 2017 Isle of Man TT Superbike campaign off to a 125.893mph start to beat rival Michael Dunlop to the top of the timesheets as both riders set standing-start laptimes.

Hutchinson opened with a 122.074 compared to Dunlop’s first of 125.680 which was his quickest. The Ballymoney man’s second lap was fractionally slower but still faster than the rest of the pack, led by Braddan rider Dan Kneen.

The Penz13.com BMW man did one lap at 124.642 to claim third place on the leaderboard, one ahead of Peter Hickman’s Smiths ‘Stupidbike’ BMW. The BSB race winner set a 124.093 on his second lap, just ahead of Steve Mercer’s Devitt RC Express Kawasaki.

Lee Johnston put his Superstock-spec BMW S1000RR in sixth place with a 123.008. Dean Harrison’s opening lap of 122.853 was enough for seventh but the Silicone Kawasaki man was well up on his second, going through Glen Helen and Ballaugh fastest before retiring at Mountain Box.

Dan Hegarty stuck his Honda in eighth on a 122.585 with Gary Johnson (122.085) and Ivan Lintin completing the top ten with a 121.824. Guy Martin’s second lap was a 120.018 while Josh Brookes’ best lap on the Norton was 117.283.