Festival of Motorcycling starts today

First practice session this evening

The Festival of Motorcycling gets under way later today (Sat 18), with the first practice session due to take place this evening.

There will be run-outs for both Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix competitors, and two speed-controlled un-timed laps for newcomers to both events.

Roads around the Mountain Course are scheduled to close at 5pm, and will reopen no later than 9pm, with the bikes due to get away from the Grandstand from 5.20pm.

Those times apply to the whole course at the Festival of Motorcycling - the Mountain Road remains two-way during the fortnight, getting rid of the need for the extended closures up there to remove and then replace the one-way system used at the TT.

There is a reminder from police that cycling is prohibited on the Mountain Road until 4.30pm on Monday, 3 September.

There's coverage of tonight's - and every - practice session on AM 1368 and via smartphone apps from 5pm with messrs Kinley, Palmer and Boyd.