PRODUCTION 600 TT

Today’s Production 600cc race was won by Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) by 2.3 seconds after three scorching laps. He ignored a badly swollen right wrist to notch his first TT victory at 117.54mph. It was also the first Kawasaki victory for many years and, subject to confirmation, the first by a four-stroke of the marque.

Damp patches under the trees and a stiff breeze on the Mountain kept speeds down, and on the first lap leader Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) lapped in 19 minutes 14.6 seconds, an average speed of 117.64mph, about 25 seconds down on Ian Lougher’s 2002 lap record. Second was John McGuinness (Yamaha) nine-tenths of a second behind but having overhauled Lougher (Honda) on the road. Third was Bruce Anstey (Suzuki) at 116.61mph, nine seconds behind McGuinness. Fourth was Lougher, fifth Jason Griffiths (Yamaha) and sixth local man Tommy Clucas.

Seventh to tenth were Adrian Archibald (Suzuki) Gordon Blackley (Honda), Shaun Harris (Honda), Chris Heath (Yamaha).

Farquhar continued to lead at the end of lap two, but McGuinness was quicker at the refuelling stops and headed out four seconds ahead. Farquhar’s second lap was run at 118.94mph and McGuinness at 118.47mph for a lead of five-and-a-half seconds as they entered the pits, but dropping nearly nine seconds on the top-up. Anstey stayed third 4.7 seconds behind McGuinness, with Lougher, Griffiths and Heath the second threesome, the latter taking over from Clucas by four seconds.

If Farquhar had lost the lead, he certainly had no intention of surrendering it on a permanent basis. As early as Glen Helen he had pulled the deficit back to jointly share the lead with his Yamaha rival.

As they streaked into Ramsey Farquhar pulled ahead again, and Anstey overhauled McGuinness on the Mountain last time round. Farquhar’s last lap was at 116.08mph but Anstey did 116.93 and McGuinness 115.51mph.

That gave Farquhar the win by 2.3 seconds, with Anstey nine seconds clear of McGuinness. Jason Griffiths took yet another fourth place, with Lougher fifth and Raymond Porter (Suzuki) sixth. Tommy Clucas faded to 11th after a slow last lap.