Old hands throw down gauntlets

The two most successful riders currently competing on the Mountain Course threw down the gauntlet in tonight's first timed practice session of TT 2012.

Seventeen-time winner John McGuinness topped the solo standings after lapping at 128.26mph.

He said he was happy with that, given the conditions: (play audio)

Simon Andrews was quickest in the Superstock class, William Dunlop in the Supersport.

Conor Cummins decided give tonight's session a miss, to give the hand he injured at the North West 200 more time to heal.

Meanwhile in the sidecars Dave Molyneux - the 14-time winner who sat out last year - went round at an average speed of 111.86mph.

Two sidecar crews - the Birchall brothers, and Glyn Jones and Richard Murphy - were air-medded to Noble's Hospital after accidents at Brandywell and Keppel gate respectively.

Both pairs were conscious when they were taken in.