Manx Grand Prix Scheduled Shake-up

Pictured is Jamie Coward preparing to halt his Team York Suzuki at Douglas Road Corner, Kirk Michael at the same moment that Lee Johnston’s Reed Racing Honda RC45 engine decided to let go  (Photo: Richard Radcliffe)

A week of wet weather has meant a host of changes to the Manx Grand Prix schedule over the next few days.

With the cancellation of qualifying on three consecutive days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) because of wet weather, organisers have been forced to activate a contingency plan for the remaining days of the meeting.

Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson has confirmed that additional road closures will be utilised this afternoon (August 22), on Friday evening (August 23) and on Sunday afternoon (August 25) to accommodate the disrupted schedule, which has only seen riders out in for one session so far on Sunday afternoon.

Roads will close later today at 12.30pm for a four-hour qualifying session, before reopening at 4.30pm for an hour and a half. They will then close again at 6pm, with qualifying resuming at 6.30pm.

In a bid to ease pressure on competitors, Friday will now be dedicated solely to qualifying sessions with roads initially closing on around the Mountain Course at 9.30am and again at 6pm. Roads will reopen similarly to Thursday for an hour and a half from 4.30pm.

As a result, the two races originally planned for that day, the Lightweight MGP and Classic Junior MGP, have been rescheduled to Sunday.

Further qualifying takes place on Saturday morning with the three-lap Classic Senior race the first of the meeting at 1.45pm.

The four-lap Junior MGP follows at 3.45pm.

In the additional session on Sunday, roads will close at 12.45pm, ahead of the aforementioned Classic Junior and Lightweight races. Roads are due to open at 6pm.

On Bank Holiday Monday, roads close at 9.30am with the four-lap Senior Manx Grand Prix at 11.30am and the meeting-concluding Classic Superbike race at 2.15pm.

The updated Manx Grand Prix programme is as follows:

Thursday, August 22

12.30pm – Roads Close

1pm – Senior MGP/Classic Superbike

2.15pm – Junior MGP/Lightweight/Classic Senior

3.10pm – Classic Senior/Classic Junior

4.30pm – Roads reopen (no later than 4.30pm)

–

6pm – Roads close

6.30pm – Junior MGP/Lightweight

7.20pm – Classic Senior/Classic Junior

9pm – Roads reopen (no later than 9pm)

Friday, August 23

9.30am – Roads close

10.15am – Classic Senior/Classic Junior/Lightweight/Junior MGP

11.30am – Senior MGP/Classic Superbike

12.50pm – Crossing Points/Access Corridors open around course for 30 minutes

1.45pm – Classic Senior/Classic Junior/Lightweight/Junior MGP

2.45pm – Senior MGP/Classic Superbike

4.30pm – Roads reopen (no later than 4.30pm)

 –

6pm – Roads close

6.30pm – Senior MGP/Classic Superbike

7.20pm – Classic Senior/Classic Junior/Lightweight/Junior MGP

9pm – Roads reopen (no later than 9pm)

Saturday, August 24

9.30am – Roads Close

10.15am – Classic Senior/ Classic Junior/ Lightweight/ Junior

11.30am – Classic Superbike/ Senior

12.50pm – Crossing Points/ Access Corridors Open (30 mins)

1.45pm – Carole Nash Classic Senior Manx Grand Prix – 3 laps

3.45pm – MGP Supporters Club Junior Manx Grand Prix – 4 laps

9pm – Roads open (no later than 9pm)

Sunday, August 25

12.45pm – Roads Close 

1.30pm – 2 Wheeling Classics Classic Junior Manx Grand Prix – 3 laps

3.45pm – PE Lightweight Manx Grand Prix – 3 laps

6pm – Roads Open (no later than 6pm)

Monday, August 26 (Bank Holiday)

9.30am – Roads Close

10.15am – Warm-Up Lap

11.30am – Mylchreests Group Senior Manx Grand Prix – 4 laps

2.15pm – RST Classic Superbike Manx Grand Prix – 4 laps

9pm – Roads Open (no later than 9pm)