Opening race day of the Isle of Man TT 2024 postponed due to traffic accident

The first TT race day of 2024 was already affected by a schedule change, as qualifying practice on Thursday evening had to be cancelled due to a traffic accident.

This prompted the organizers to change the schedule for Saturday and add a two-lap Superbike/Superstock qualifying session at 10:30 a.m. local time.

The opening race of the event, the first four-lap Supersport competition, was scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. local time, followed by the first three-lap Sidecar race at 4:00 p.m. local time.

The race director had initially announced that there had been a one-hour delay in the schedule for Saturday.

According to a TT spokesman, there was a traffic accident on the other side of the mountain, where the road sweeper had to clear away the debris.

However, at 10:40 BST, a second delay was announced and a new schedule was revealed.

The roads around the island will now be closed at 11:30 a.m. The qualifying race for the Superbike/Superstock races will take place at 12:00 p.m.

The Supersport race now starts at 2:45 p.m., the Sidecar competition takes place at 5:15 p.m.

There have been no reductions in the number of laps in each race. Supersport is contested over four laps and Sidecar over three laps.

Michael Dunlop Senior

Photo by: ttracesofficial/Pacemaker Press

Organisers have until 9.30pm BST before roads must reopen.

Racing continues on Sunday with the opening race of the six-lap Superbike event, scheduled for 14:40 local time.

Reigning Senior TT winner Peter Hickman goes into Saturday’s race day as the rider to beat after setting a lap speed of 216.999 km/h on his FHO Racing Superstock BMW on Friday night.

On Saturday, Michael Dunlop has the chance to continue making TT history in the Supersport race, as he is currently just one win away from beating his late uncle Joey’s all-time record of 26 years.

Dunlop won both Supersport races in 2023 on his MD Racing Yamaha and set the pace in his class during the practice week after switching back to a Yamaha R6 after starting on a Triumph.

Joey Dunlop’s record of 26 TT victories stands since 2000.

Ten races will take place next week, including two Superbike competitions (including the Senior TT final), two Supersport, two Superstock, two Supertwin and two Sidecar races. Compared to last year, a second Supertwin and Superstock race has been added to the schedule.