Michael Dunlop and late stand-in Michael Rutter started the first practice for the Bennetts Classic TT alongside one another on Monday evening.
They were both aboard British singles that, until last year at least, they probably never imagined they would campaign.
The split session saw the F1 and F2 machines on track first shortly before 6.40pm, led away by TT rider liaison officer John Barton on his ZXR 750 Kawasaki, but it was Michael Dunlop, last year’s F1 race winner, on the Team Classic Suzuki, that was first back with an opening lap of 117.191mph.
Dunlop opted to switch to his 500cc Molnar Manx Norton but his team-mate in the F1 Class, Lee Johnston moved up the board with a lap of 116.093 with Steve Mercer on the Mistral Racing Kawasaki posting the session’s third fastest lap (115.866).
Ian Lougher (106.584) topped the F2 leaderboard from Roy Richardson (104.864) with Chris Moore (104.831) the third fastest in the class.
John McGuinness clocked an opening lap of 104.599 in the 500cc session on the Winfield Paton from Dunlop’s first 500cc lap of 102.962. McGuinness’s second lap (107.652) topped the session from team-mate Ryan Farquhar (104.353).
The much-anticipated appearance of the Valvolene Racing by Padgetts Motorcycles Yamaha YZR500, ridden by New Zealander Bruce Anstey, saw the current TT lap record holder get as far as Ramsey.
Michael Rutter, a late replacement for the injured Dan Kneen on the Ripley Land G50 Matchless, arrived in the Island shortly before the practice began, but the bike broke down near Bishopourt on his opening lap.
He is planning to race in Saturday’s 500cc race before heading to Cadwell Park for the BSB round on Monday.
The session was also notable for eight-time TT race winner Charlie Williams’ first competitive Mountain Course lap since 1984.
In the 350cc session, Alan Oversby was the only rider over 100mph (100.046) from Blackpool’s Roy Richardson (98.759) and Jamie Hamilton.
New Zealand’s legendary America’s Cup skipper Grant Dalton, who also participated in the Whitbread Round the World race five times, swapped the ocean for the road and got his maiden Mountain Course laps in the F1 Classic TT qualifying session.
John Barton was sustained a broken collarbone following an incident at Creg-ny-Baa while Ryan Farquhar, David Burrell, Alec Whitwell and Jared Heath all came off at Governor’s. They were all OK.