Isle of Man TT: Honda rider Dean Harrison fastest in final qualifying

Honda’s Dean Harrison continued his strong form at the Isle of Man TT by posting the fastest Superbike and Superstock speeds in the final qualifying sessions on Friday.

Having been the fastest rider for the majority of the week, Harrison lapped the 37.73-mile course with an average speed of 134.877mph on his Honda Superbike in the opening morning qualifying.

He then bettered that in the afternoon session on his Superstock machine as he posted a lap of 135.484mph – the fastest overall speed of the week.

Peter Hickman, Josh Brookes and Northern Ireland’s Michael Dunlop, who is aiming to extend his record of 33 victories at the road race, were his closest challengers in the Superbike class in the 132mph bracket.

Dunlop was second to Harrison in Superstock qualifying with a lap of 131.946mph, ahead of Ian Hutchinson, Jamie Coward and Mike Browne, who topped the morning session when the majority of riders focused on their Superbikes.

Given his qualifying speed, Harrison will be the rider to beat when the first of eight races takes place on Saturday in a three-lap Superstock TT, before the first Superbike race on Sunday.

Dunlop was quickest in both Supersport sessions on his Ducati and ahead of Hickman, Harrison and Josh Brookes, with his speed of 128.719mph in the afternoon just shy of his fastest time of the week in the class.