FINAL QUALIFYING SESSION AT THE 2012 MANX GRAND PRIX ABANDONED FOLLOWING INCIDENT

The final full qualifying session for the 2012 Manx Grand Prix races was abandoned at 7.20pm following an incident on the first lap of qualifying. The accident occurred by Alexander Drive, on the approach to Quarterbridge, and the rider was airlifted to Nobles Hospital where his injuries are currently being assessed.

The session had earlier been delayed while the road was swept following a road traffic accident before the roads were closed.

The session eventually began at around 6.50pm with Gavin Lupton and David Yeomans first away but the red flag was shown at the start finish/line shortly after 7.05pm following the incident at Alexander Drive. Riders completed the lap and were then brought by the grandstand at the end of their first lap.

The roads are due to close at 5pm tomorrow evening with the three lap Newcomers (A, B and C) race scheduled to start at 5.30pm (17.30pm) followed by a practice session for all other classes with roads due to open again no later than 9pm.

John Simpson will start favourite in the Newcomers A race having clocked 113.394 in the class in Thursday’s session. Ramsey rider Andrew Dudgeon, a beneficiary of the Olive Bullock Scolarship, tops the Newcomers B (SuperTwin) qualifying with 104.798 while James Cowton, who posted the fastest time of the week for a newcomer on his 600cc machine but competes in the lightweight newcomers class will start favourite for the Newcomers C race following his 103.575 set in Wednesday’s race.

Pictures: Dave Kneen