Courtesy of Team Black Horse
The 2007 Isle of Man TT Festival got underway on Saturday, May 26th, with the first solo untimed practice session of the 2007 motorcycle racing extravaganza in the event's centenary year.
For former two-time American AMA Superstock Champion and new Team Black Horse recruit Jimmy Moore, the 2007 Isle of Man TT is his inaugural visit to the world famous motorcycling event. As a newcomer, he is welcoming the help and advice of teammate, seven-times Isle of Man TT winner and lap record holder, Ian Lougher. Moore is keen to continue from his successful "pure" road race debut at the recent Kennedy Group International North West 200, competing in all the solo TT classes on board the Team Black Horse Honda.
Team Black Horse Manager and racer Ian Lougher is again campaigning on the Stobart Motorsport Superbike in both Superbike classes, and is keen to go one better from his 2006 TT efforts, where he finished 2nd and 4th in the premiere TT superbike classes. Like teammate Moore, Lougher will also be on board the familiar purple livery of the Black Horse Motorcycle Finance-supported Honda CBR600RR in the Junior TT and Honda Fireblade in the Superstock TT.
The first timed practice session got underway on Monday evening after a short delay, but unfortunately patchy wet weather made the circuit conditions difficult. Lougher lead the session on the Stobart Motorsport Superbike, but had to pit at the end of the lap after striking 2 unsuspecting pigeons at the very fast Bishop's Court area of the circuit, smashing the fairing and screen on the Stobart machine. Unfazed, Lougher took the Black Horse 600 out for a lap while his mechanics repaired the superbike. After a satisfactory lap on board the supersport machine, posting the third quickest time, it was a quick change to the Black Horse Superstock bike for a steady lap in the now-deteriorating weather conditions. Lougher finished the session with his first lap of the 2007 TT on the Team Black Horse Superstock Fireblade.
Meanwhile, Moore completed two laps on the Team Black Horse 600 before changing to the Team Black Horse Superstock machine to put in two consecutive laps to close the session.
Monday 28th May Superbike Practice Times:
1: J McGuinness Honda 2 laps 18 06.77 124.983 mph
2: I Hutchinson Honda 2 laps 18 19.31 123.558 mph
3: M Finnegan Honda 2 laps 18 40.25 122.118 mph
4: I Lougher Honda 1 lap 18.40.25 121.248 mph
44: J Moore 2 laps 20 54.65 108.260 mph
Monday 28th May Supersport 600 Junior TT Practice Times:
1: C Cummins Yamaha 2 Laps 18 51.40 120.053 mph
2: C Palmer Honda 2 Laps 19 01.70 118.970 mph
3: I Lougher Honda 1 Laps 19 14.86 117.615 mph
52: J Moore Honda 2 Laps 21 36.56 104.760 mph
Monday 28th May Superstock TT Practice Times:
1: B Anstey Suzuki 1 lap 18 39.31 121.350 mph
2: G Martin Honda 1 lap 19 00.31 119.115 mph
3: P Hunt Yamaha 1 lap 19 00.36 119.109 mph
16: I Lougher Honda 1 lap 19 56.83 113.490 mph
42: J Moore Honda 2 Laps 20 54.65 108.260 mph
Ian Lougher : " I'm looking forward to this year's Centenary TT, it's going to be a very special atmosphere with many more fans than usual making the trip. The media interest in the TT which has been phenomenal, is a great boost to the TT festival as well as "pure" road racing as a whole. For me personally, my aim is to take at least one win in the Superbike class this year, which is the only class at the TT in which I haven't taken victory. But there is strong competition in all the classes and it'll certainly be no walk over. So far practices have gone well; the weather didn't help much with patchy rain around the circuit but the machines are working well and it just takes a bit of time to get yourself up to speed.
Jimmy Moore : " "Pure" road racing is something I have never competed at and I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to do so. I have always had huge respect for the guys that race the roads but I could never have imagined the rush that racing flat out on the 'street' gives - It's truly awesome!
I knew that at almost 38 miles per lap, the Isle of Man TT circuit was going to be much harder to learn than the North West 200 circuit, which was a mere 9 miles per lap in comparison, but I'm certainly up for the challenge. I've studied the circuit and learned it carefully section by section for almost four months now, and so far having completed seven laps over the two practice evenings, it's starting to come together for me but it has suprised me how different the cirucuit looks at speed. But I'm confident that the team's set-up expertise and Ian's circuit knowledge will enable me to show my potential."
