The 2026 Isle of Man TT roared into life this week as competitors returned to the 37.73-mile Mountain Course under near-perfect late-spring skies, with Dean Harrison setting the early Superbike pace once timed qualifying got under way.
Organisers eased the field back into the world's most demanding road race with a revised, staggered approach to practice week. Day one was given over to untimed running, allowing riders to find their rhythm without the pressure of the clock, and the schedule introduced competitors to progressively larger machinery as the week unfolded — beginning on Supertwin and Supersport bikes before the fearsome Superbikes were unleashed. The intent was clear: rather than sending riders down the daunting opening miles at close to 190 mph from a standing start, the new format lets them build confidence on smaller-capacity machines first.
Conditions were as good as the island has offered in years. Commentators on the official TT coverage described the Mountain Course as being in immaculate, prime condition, with verges trimmed back and a full race-style grid assembling under the gantry that lent day one the atmosphere of a Senior race day.
Among the early talking points was Michael Dunlop heading out on Paton's distinctive Supertwin, a machine treated to extensive aerodynamic and bodywork revisions over the winter as the manufacturer pushes hard in what is expected to be the final year of that class before the Supersport category takes over. Harrison, meanwhile, looked immediately at home, carrying big lean angles and letting the bike run on his Supersport machine before transferring that form to the Superbike to top the opening qualifying times.
The week was not without a sobering moment. An incident at Parliament Square involved one rider and a number of spectators, all of whom were taken to Noble's Hospital to be assessed and treated. Organisers and the broadcast team sent their best wishes to those affected as the extent of any injuries was established.
The staggered build-up has been broadly welcomed in the paddock as a sensible step on a circuit where there is no margin for error, and it set a measured tone for a meeting that runs deep into race week. With qualifying now building towards the headline races, the early signs point to a fast and fiercely competitive TT — but the Parliament Square scare was a reminder of the fine margins that define racing on the Mountain Course, where commitment and caution are never far apart.
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*Originally published on [Motorsports Global](https://motorsports.global/article/isle-of-man-tt-2026-opens-harrison-leads-parliament-square-incident). Visit for full coverage.*
