The Supersport class continues to be the most popular at the TT.
For the third year in a row, the two races (predominantly involving 600cc machines) have more entries than any of the categories with almost 110 applications received.
Not only is it oversubscribed this year, but it gave organisers the biggest of headaches before they were able to confirm the grid that will assemble on Glencrutchery Road in early June.
Michael Dunlop will, arguably, be the man to beat again. He will once more line up at number three but this time for his own MD Racing team with his choice of machinery yet to be confirmed.
The Valvoline Racing by Padgett’s Honda trio of Bruce Anstey, Dan Kneen and Cameron Donald could provide the strongest opposition. The Jackson Racing duo of John McGuinness (no1) and Conor Cummins (4) will also be Honda-mounted as will Keith Amor (12).
Yamaha, specifically the Mar-Train Racing team, have a fantastic opportunity of getting onto the top step of the podium with the formidable looking partnership of Dean Harrison and Gary Johnson. Harrison took a brace of fourths last year and is deservedly promoted up the order to number two, while Johnson, a late addition to the team, took a superb victory in the opening Supersport encounter last year on a 675 Triumph.
William Dunlop will ride a CD Racing Yamaha at six, while his Superbike team-mate Guy Martin will be on a Smiths Racing Triumph that could well provide him with the best opportunity for grabbing a win.
Fellow Smiths Racing Triumph rider, David Johnson, will go off at 16, while Lee Johnston has also switched to the British manufacturer riding for East Coast Construction at 13.
Ian Hutchinson will go at nine on the Tsingtao Racing MV Agusta (see story above), with James Hillier at 10 on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki.
Michael Rutter drops down to 14, with Dan Stewart again starting at 18. The three remaining seeds are all riders who enjoyed excellent results in the class last year, none more so than Ivan Lintin who is promoted up the order to 17 on the RC Express Racing Kawasaki. Russ Mountford (Silicone Engineering) and Jamie Hamilton (BE Racing) complete the seeded riders at numbers 19 and 20 respectively.
No fewer than 97 entries have been accepted for the two four-lap races, but with only 78 places up for grabs on the grid a starting position will definitely have to be earned.
MORE NEWS FROM THE TT LAUNCH IN THIS WEEK’S MANX INDEPENDENT