- Dean Harrison clocked 135.484 mph on the Superstock, nearly half a minute ahead of the next Superstock rider.
- Josh Brookes was the second-fastest Superstock rider at 132.220 mph and also set his fastest Superbike lap of the week.
- Peter Hickman was hampered by technical problems.
On Friday afternoon, qualifying at the Isle of Man TT 2026 concluded with the final session for the big bike classes. Superbike and Superstock shared the track one last time before the start of racing, and unlike the morning session, most riders opted to go out on the Superstock machine first to make final setup adjustments ahead of the race. Once again, Dean Harrison was at the center of attention, having set the pace throughout the entire practice week.
Who Was Fastest in the Final Qualifying Session?
Dean Harrison was once again the fastest. The Honda Racing UK rider lapped the Snaefell Mountain Course at 135.484 mph on the Superstock machine, setting the fastest time of the entire practice week.
The 135.484 mph was Harrison’s fastest lap of the entire week. It came right at the end of the session, when he was flagged into the pit lane before the start-finish line. For context, the lap speed always refers to the full distance of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course, so there is no shorter course involved. According to reports, his pace even pointed to an even faster lap in the 136 mph range. Harrison had topped every qualifying session and heads into Saturday’s Superstock race as the clear favorite, with nearly half a minute in hand over the second-fastest Superstock rider Josh Brookes.
How Fast Was Dean Harrison Exactly?
Harrison was dominant across the entire lap. His opening lap of 133.549 mph was already 12.6 seconds ahead of Michael Dunlop (131.913 mph), with Ian Hutchinson third on the Superstock times at 130.700 mph.
On the run to Glen Helen, Harrison was six seconds faster than everyone else, while positions two through five were separated by just over a second. On his final lap he improved to 135.484 mph, just 1.6 seconds outside his personal best from the first Superstock race the previous year. Because he was flagged into the pit lane before the finish line at the end of the session, a potentially even faster lap was denied. In the live coverage, he appeared calm and relaxed, giving the impression of producing his times without great effort.
Why Is the Superstock Podium Battle Still Open?
Behind Harrison, the field has closed up significantly. Josh Brookes was the second-fastest Superstock rider at 132.220 mph, followed by Ian Hutchinson (130.532 mph) and Jamie Coward (130.122 mph), both of whom also stayed above 130 mph on their second laps.
This points to an open battle for the podium places behind Harrison. Jamie Coward was delighted with a significant setup improvement on the Rapid Honda, having missed the previous year through injury. Further competitive times came from Julian Trummer (127.630 mph), Marcus Simpson (127.334 mph), Mitch Rees (126.668 mph) and Finnish rider Erno Kostamo (125.768 mph). Newcomer Gary McCoy continued his solid week with 123.370 mph.
What Happened to Peter Hickman?
Peter Hickman was held back on multiple occasions. The 8TEN Racing rider was black-flagged at Parliament Square in Ramsey so that marshals could inspect his BMW, as a loose piece of the front fairing needed to be removed.
On his opening lap, Hickman had actually been faster than Harrison from Glen Helen to Ballaugh before the issue stopped him. After switching to the Superstock machine, he ran wide at Sulby Bridge and pulled in immediately afterward at Ginger Hall because he was unhappy with the BMW. Hickman had already said previously that the motorcycle was not turning into corners the way he wanted.
How Did the Superbikes Fare in This Session?
On the Superbikes, Josh Brookes set the benchmark. The Australian led the early Superbike classification at 131.834 mph and later improved to 132.220 mph, his fastest Superbike lap of the week.
With most front runners prioritizing the Superstock in this session, the Superbike field was limited. Michael Dunlop led the pack out on the MD Racing BMW at the start and recorded a second lap of 131.946 mph after making changes to his Superstock machine. John McGuinness was out on the Superstock after his team swapped the engine in his Superbike between sessions.
When Do the Isle of Man TT 2026 Races Begin?
Racing begins on Saturday at 10:45 AM with the three-lap Superstock race. Friday’s final big bike qualifying was the last benchmark before competition gets underway.
It marks the conclusion of a practice week in which Dean Harrison was the standout performer across all sessions. The sidecars will not take part in the remainder of the event following several serious incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who was fastest in the final qualifying at the Isle of Man TT 2026?
Dean Harrison was the fastest at 135.484 mph on the Superstock machine. He also set the fastest time of the entire practice week.
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Was Harrison’s 135 mph lap a flying lap?
No, it came at the end of the session when Harrison was flagged into the pit lane before the start-finish line. The speed refers to the full distance of the Mountain Course, and reports suggested he was on course for an even faster lap of around 136 mph.
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Why did Peter Hickman have problems in qualifying?
Hickman was black-flagged at Parliament Square because a loose piece of front fairing needed to be removed. He later pulled in his Superstock machine at Ginger Hall.
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When does the Isle of Man TT 2026 Superstock race start?
The Superstock race begins on Saturday at 10:45 AM and runs over three laps. It is the first race of the race weekend.
