Last year's Champions enjoyed a good first night of practice at the Southern 100 meeting on Monday evening.
Nicky Crowe and Darren Hope were a full three miles an hour quicker than any of their rivals in the Sidecars, with their quickest lap at 2 minutes, 42.856 seconds at an average speed of 93.948 miles per hour.
In the Solos, Ian Lougher was fastest in both sessions for the big bikes. His best lap of the Billown Circuit was timed at 2 minutes, 21.083 seconds which is an average speed of 108.447 miles per hour.
Elsewhere, Castletown's Chris Palmer and Nigel Beattie from Laxey top the 250's, Ian Lougher set the standard in the 600's, Robert Dunlop leads the 125's and Alan Oversby heads both the 400 and Classic bike classes.
Roads around the Billown Circuit close at six o'clock this evening for further practice and the first two races of the meeting. They will re-open no later than 9.40pm.
PICTURE - Ian Lougher
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