2026 TT Races Qualifying Summary :
The opening week of the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races has delivered a stark reminder of why the Mountain Course remains the ultimate, most unforgiving test in motorsport. As continuous track action wrapped up for the qualifying stages on Friday afternoon, May 29, the paddock’s focus was heavily divided between record-shattering pace on the tarmac and deep solemnity following severe incidents that reshaped this year’s event program.
Unprecedented Decision: Sidecar Class Suspended
The most significant operational headline of the opening week came on Thursday, May 28, when race organisers took the historic and highly precautionary step to suspend all remaining Sidecar action from the 2026 schedule.
The decision followed an immediate technical and operational review initiated after a series of heavy incidents during the week. Opening practice saw a red flag when Maria Costello MBE and passenger Shaun Parker came off at Brandish; while Costello was reported in serious but stable condition, Parker required extensive treatment for severe trauma injuries. The tipping point occurred during Wednesday evening’s third qualifying session, where the dominant local frontrunners, brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe, suffered a violent crash. Both were hospitalised, with Callum undergoing shoulder surgery and Ryan sustaining a broken wrist and burns.
In an official statement released at 12:15 PM on May 28, the Isle of Man TT Race Organisation stated:
“This precautionary measure has been implemented in the interests of competitor and spectator safety and reflects the Race Organisation’s commitment to reviewing all aspects of event safety and operational delivery whenever an incident occurs. All sidecar competitors and teams involved in the event have been briefed by Race Officials on the outcome of the initial review… We recognise the long-standing history of Sidecar racing at the TT, together with the commitment of the competitors, teams and supporters involved in the class. This decision has not been taken lightly.”
Tragic Loss and Incidents
The paddock is also mourning the loss of British rider Daniel Ingham, 33, from Melton Mowbray. Ingham tragically sustained fatal injuries during Monday evening’s opening qualifying session following an incident on his first lap at Doran’s Bend. Though making his official TT debut, Ingham was an incredibly accomplished Mountain Course competitor, having won the prestigious Senior Manx Grand Prix in 2024.
Additionally, an incident on Monday involved a solo competitor colliding with barriers at Albert Square in Ramsey, resulting in injuries to eight spectators. Emergency services handled the situation swiftly, including the helicopter transfer of a two-year-old girl to the hospital, who is thankfully expected to make a full recovery.
Opening Week Leaderboards (Qualifying 5 Final Standings)
When the bikes were on track, the pace was nothing short of blistering. Perfect conditions allowed riders to push the envelope from the very first evening. Dean Harrison laid down a massive marker on his Honda Racing UK machines, clocking an astonishing 133.925 mph lap on Monday—the fastest opening qualifying lap in TT history—before firing in a massive 135.484 mph lap by Friday afternoon. Michael Dunlop also signaled his intent, comfortably leading the Supersport times on his Ducati.
The official top ten leaderboards across the primary solo classes going into race week stand as follows:
Superbike / Superstock :
(Note: Due to session dynamics and the shuffling of machinery, Friday’s ultimate outright pace was set during the combined Superstock/Superbike sessions, dominated heavily by Stock-spec times at the top of the sheets).
| Position | Rider | Machine | Best Lap Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dean Harrison | Honda | 135.484 |
| 2 | Josh Brookes | BMW | 132.220 |
| 3 | Michael Dunlop MBE | BMW | 131.946 |
| 4 | Ian Hutchinson | BMW | 130.700 |
| 5 | Jamie Coward | Honda | 130.122 |
| 6 | David Johnson | Kawasaki | 129.847 |
| 7 | Paul Jordan | Honda | 129.833 |
| 8 | Michael Browne | Honda | 129.805 |
| 9 | Nathan Harrison | Honda | 129.791 |
| 10 | John McGuinness MBE | Honda | 129.756 |
Supersport :
| Position | Rider | Machine | Best Lap Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Dunlop MBE | Ducati | 128.719 |
| 2 | Peter Hickman | Triumph | 127.301 |
| 3 | Dominic Herbertson | Yamaha | 125.740 |
| 4 | Josh Brookes | Yamaha | 125.556 |
| 5 | Jamie Coward | Triumph | 125.357 |
| 6 | Ian Hutchinson | Ducati | 124.217 |
| 7 | Joe Yeardsley | Yamaha | 122.752 |
| 8 | Michael Evans | Triumph | 122.317 |
| 9 | Erno Kostamo | Triumph | 122.077 |
| 10 | Julian Trummer | Yamaha | 121.621 |
Sportbike :
| Position | Rider | Machine | Best Lap Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Browne | Paton | 121.348 |
| 2 | Peter Hickman | Yamaha | 120.050 |
| 3 | Jamie Coward | Paton | 119.385 |
| 4 | Michal Dokoupil | Kawasaki | 117.931 |
| 5 | Barry Furber | Yamaha | 117.320 |
| 6 | Stefano Bonetti | Paton | 116.747 |
| 7 | Michael Sweeney | Aprilia | 116.701 |
| 8 | Jonathan Perry | Kawasaki | 116.083 |
| 9 | Toby Shann | Kawasaki | 114.889 |
| 10 | Rhys Hardisty | Yamaha | 114.848 |
With qualifying officially concluded, the solo classes move directly into the race week schedule, where Harrison, Dunlop, and Hickman look poised for an absolute dogfight across the Mountain Course.
You can read a full summary of the Race Week here : https://tbni.blog/2026/06/07/2026-tt-races-race-week-summary/
You can get a detailed breakdown of all results from the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races here : https://tbni.blog/2026/06/07/2026-isle-of-man-tt-results/
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