Isle of Man TT: Harrison continues impressive form in Superbike practice

Dean Harrison also set the fastest speed in Monday night's Superbike practice session

Dean Harrison continued his impressive form in practice for the Isle of Man TT by setting the fastest time in the second Superbike session of the week.

Harrison produced a scintillating sub-17 minute speed of 133.462mph on his second lap on Tuesday night.

That was inside Michael Dunlop's lap record for the class, 133.393, but is unofficial because it was set in practice rather than racing.

Dunlop was close behind in second at 132.319 on his Tyco BMW.

Dunlop is the only rider ever to register a sub-17 minute lap in a race but Harrison's lap of 16 minutes 57.728 seconds in Tuesday's practice saw him unofficially dip under the 17 minute barrier.

The Ballymoney rider holds the absolute record for the Mountain Course at 133.962, set in the 2016 Senior race.

The sidecar practice times also increased on Tuesday.

Harrison negotiated the 37.73-mile course at 133.140 on his opening circuit from a standing start, but bettered that on his subsequent 'flying' lap.

Manxman Dan Kneen recorded his fastest ever lap of the circuit to take third on the practice leaderboard at 132.258, with fellow BMW pilot Peter Hickman fourth with 132.169.

In perfect conditions, Lincolnshire rider Hickman led the Superstock speeds with a scorching lap of 130.619mph, marginally faster than Harrison on 130.553.

Kneen was next at 129.140, followed by Honda-mounted Lee Johnston, who lapped at 128.288.

Dunlop was best of the Supersports in Tuesday's practice on 125.206, slower than Harrison's best of the week from Saturday night - 125.797.

Ivan Lintin led the Lightweight Supertwins with 119.191 on his Kawasaki, with Italian Stefano Bonetti in second at 118.848.

Dunlop retains the fastest speed of the week in that class with his unofficial lap record of 120.875, set on Saturday night.

John Holden and Lee Cain set the fastest sidecar time of the week on Tuesday night, putting in a lap of 115.732, followed by brothers Ben and Tom Birchall (115.145) and Alan Founds and Jake Lowt (113.037).

Practicing continues each night this week, with the first race of the meeting, the six-lap Superbike, due off at 12:00 BST on Saturday.