2025 NEWCOMER LAP REPORT

Words by Phil Wain and images courtesy of IOMTTRaces

The 2025 Isle of Man TT Races officially began on Monday morning. However, adverse weather conditions meant that only the speed-controlled laps for Newcomers could be completed.

Organisers had already replaced a full day of qualifying with two untimed laps for each class. At 10.50am, the session got underway, Rider Liaison Officers Richard Quayle and John Barton taking solo newcomers Barry Burrell and Mitch Rees round for their respective laps.

Shortly afterwards, it was the turn of the sidecar newcomers, amongst them drivers Stephen Kershaw, George Holden, and James Saunders. French pairings Bruno Mathern/Mathilde Jully and Steevens Palacouer/Yann Druel also participated, with Greg Lambert, Steve Ramsden, and Gary Gibson some of the experienced drivers escorting them around the Mountain Course.

However, soon after they’d commenced their lap, the weather began to close in. Rain began to fall at the Grandstand as well as at various other parts of the 37 and ¾-mile circuit. That left organisers little option other than to cancel the remainder of the day’s track activities. The first Qualifying session of the Isle of Man TT Races will now take place on Tuesday evening. Importantly, the session is due to get underway at 18.30.