Farquhar tops Classic Superbike times at Manx GP

Ryan Farquhar posted the fastest lap in the Classic Superbike class during last night's practice session for the Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man.

Farquhar is competing for Roger Winfield at the event and clocked an average speed of 107.560mph on his Suzuki XR69.

He won the corresponding race last year and faces opposition from road racing arch-rival Michael Dunlop plus Manx rider Dan Kneen.

Dunlop was second fastest on his Suzuki XR69 last night at
102.570mph.

The Ballymoney rider will be aiming to make amends in next Friday's race after he broke down while leading the event in 2011.

Last night offered competitors their first real chance to get to grips with the 37.73-mile Mountain Course after Monday's session was abandoned due to fog, with competitors only completing a single lap.

In the 500cc Classic class Olie Linsdell (72 Royal Enfield) and Chris Palmer on a 50-year-old Matchless G50 both got laps in, with Linsdell's time of 24m 03.437s marginally quicker than Palmer's 24m 05.236s.

Farquhar took his '72 Honda out in the 350cc class for its first lap of the week while Phil McGurk topped the Junior Post Classic board on the 250cc Yamaha.

In June Farquhar won the first ever Supertwin race at the Isle of Man TT.

Jamie Coward was quickest on the modern machines on his 600cc Suzuki with a lap of 111.650mph.

Practice continues this evening at 6.20pm with the Classics getting under way from 7.05pm.

The first race, the Newcomers event, takes place on Saturday evening.