The second night of qualifying at the 2025 Classic TT unfolded under perfect skies on Thursday evening, giving riders the chance to really stretch their legs around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course. Once again, it was Rob Hodson who stole the show in the Formula 1 Classic category, while TT legend John McGuinness MBE set the standard in the Historic Senior. Adam McLean continued to impress in the Lightweight division, and Michael Sweeney lit up the Historic Junior with another spirited charge.
Hodson, on the SMT by Key Racing Ducati, came agonizingly close to rewriting the record books. His searing second-lap speed of 127.402mph left him just eight-hundredths of a mile per hour shy of Bruce Anstey’s long-standing 2017 lap record of 127.496mph. It was the sort of lap that reminded everyone why Hodson is one of the most feared men on the roads right now.
The Formula 1 Classic machines, sharing the schedule with Manx Grand Prix practice, were the first out at 6:30pm. Greenall Racing’s Nathan Harrison was again given the honour of leading the field away, followed by his teammate Jamie Coward. Mike Browne was next, riding The Bike Specialist Ducati, before Hodson thundered down Bray Hill. A strong field soon followed, including Kawasaki-mounted Julian Trummer, Craig Neve, and Brian McCormack, along with seasoned road warriors Davo Johnson and Ian Hutchinson.
Through Glen Helen on the opening lap, it was Hodson who immediately set the benchmark, though Davey Todd was only four-tenths behind him. Harrison, Dominic Herbertson, McCormack, Paul Jordan, Neve and Coward all kept themselves in striking distance, ensuring a tight scrap right from the off. Harrison was the first to break clear, clocking a lap at 125.107mph. Hodson was just behind on 124.897mph, while Todd’s early pace fell away dramatically over the Mountain, leaving him with a disappointing 119.254mph.
Elsewhere, Coward posted a solid 123.535mph for third quickest, while Jordan (122.894mph), McCormack (121.895mph) and Neve (121.780mph) also impressed. Among the big stories was Michael Dunlop, who shaved off nearly three seconds from the night before on the experimental Norton, pushing through to a promising 120.588mph.
But the fireworks came on the second run. Hodson unleashed that blistering 127.402mph effort, taking him right to the edge of Anstey’s record. Coward also stepped it up, storming to 126.400mph to sit second overall. Harrison backed up his early form with another tidy lap at 125.221mph, which left him third on the night. Behind them, Johnson (123.125mph), Neve (122.628mph), McCormack (122.052mph) and Evans (121.333mph) all found more pace, tightening the leaderboard considerably.
At 7:20pm the focus shifted as the Historic Senior, Historic Junior and Lightweight classes took their turn. In the Historic Senior, McGuinness proved once again that class is permanent. Piloting the Winfield Paton, the 23-time TT winner clocked 110.624mph, giving him a comfortable 10-second cushion over Mike Browne, who produced 109.764mph on the Peter Lodge Racing Norton.
Behind the leading duo, Ian Lougher initially slotted into third with 106.204mph, but he was bumped down the order as Joe Yeardsley (108.844mph) and Paul Jordan (106.623mph) both went quicker. Conor Cummins also chalked up his first laps of the Classic TT week, recording 104.272mph, good enough for sixth. Manx duo Michael Evans (102.729mph) and Dan Sayle (102.458mph) followed closely behind, showing the strength of local talent.
In the Historic Junior category, Evans had an even better evening. On Ken Rutter’s Honda he set the quickest lap of the week so far at 103.352mph. He edged out Jordan (102.522mph) and Yeardsley (102.430mph) in what was shaping up to be a tightly fought class. Dean Harrison’s early speed looked good for a 103mph lap, but his effort was cut short by a stoppage at Glen Duff. He ended the night fourth at 99.787mph, followed by Alan Oversby (97.594mph) and Italy’s Maurizio Bottalico (97.070mph).
The Lightweight Classic class rounded off the evening in style. Adam McLean showed he’s a real force on the smaller machinery, firing his 250cc Yamaha around at 112.929mph — the fastest Lightweight lap of the week. Stuart Hall pushed hard to stay in touch, recording 112.218mph, leaving just 4.4 seconds between the pair. Michael Sweeney, determined as ever, produced 111.218mph on his 250cc Honda to go third. Rhys Hardisty wasn’t far off either, clocking 111.467mph on his Yamaha TZ, while Chris Moore’s 109.992mph secured him fifth. Once again, Owen Monaghan shone on his 400cc Honda, improving to 109.343mph and finishing sixth overall as the quickest in class.
A Night of Statements
The second qualifying evening delivered a mix of near-record pace, returning legends, and fierce inter-class battles. Hodson’s near-record lap on the Ducati was undoubtedly the talking point, but McGuinness, Evans, and McLean all ensured that each class had its own headline performance. With more sessions ahead, the stage is set for a weekend of breathtaking racing where the margins will only get finer.
Photos: Isle of Man TT Races
