Isle of Man Guide

New regulations concerning fuel tank capacities are set to cause alterations in refuelling patterns, particularly in the Classic races. The maximum load has been reduced from 32 litres to 24 which will mean that 500 Honda twins will now have to stop and take on petrol instead of going right through. Also likely to be caught up will be 350 Greeves Oultons. Fitted with big tanks some, such as that ridden by John Loder, have previously been able to manage four laps non-stop. They now look likely to have to pull in. Suzuki twins in the Lightweight Classic will now almost certainly have to halt at the end of lap two rather than optionally after one, two or three laps.

Four laps on the same tankful was just beyond Alan Jackson from Preston in last year's Junior Manx. He pushed in to finish 47th. But he's back with 600 and 750 Suzukis and has already flagged up a message that he'll be well in the hunt in the Junior and Senior despite stopping to refuel. He was sixth in last year's Senior and won the 750 class of this year's Production 1000 TT. Elder brother Andy also tried four laps in last year's Junior with a similar outcome. He was fifth in the Senior and also has 600 and 750 Suzukis this year.

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