Practice for the 2003 Isle of Man TT races got under way last Saturday May 24 at 6.15pm with Ian Lougher and Dave Molyneux looking to add to Honda's 115 wins at the famous annual event, first run in 1907.

Lougher concentrates his efforts on the six-lap Formula One TT and the Senior TT, also over six laps, as the Welshman bids to take the 1000cc SP-2 Honda machine to victory.

The Formula One TT will grace the 37.73-mile Mountain circuit at 2pm on Saturday May 31 while the Senior TT starts at 1.15pm on Friday June 6.

'With the machinery and support I have from Honda I know this is my best chance of a achieving a lifetime ambition and winning a big bike TT,' says Lougher who already has six TT wins to his name.

He continues: 'We've got a big week of practice coming up with the SP-2 Honda but I'm certain the team has what it takes to get the bike dialled in and ready for the Formula One battle on Saturday week.'

Lougher is joined in the Honda line-up for the 2003 TT race festival by sidecar ace and seven times TT winner Dave Molyneux.

Molyneux is partnered by passenger Craig Hallam and will use the all-new CBR600RR motor ­ in a chassis built by himself in his workshop at Kirkmichael on the Island.

'I'm excited about racing the new CBR600RR, the machine has been an instant success in Supersport racing around the world so I'd like to add to that with a couple of TT wins,' explains Manxman Molyneux.

Molyneux is in action in the two, three-lap sidecar TTs, on Saturday May 31 at 5pm and on Wednesday June 4 at 1.15pm.

Practice for the 2003 Isle of Man TT races runs from Saturday May 24 to Friday May 30, the races are:

Saturday May 31
14.00 Formula One (1000cc) ­ six laps
17.00 Sidecar ­ three laps

Monday June 2
10.45 Lightweight (400cc) and Ultra-Lightweight (125cc) ­ four laps
13.15 Production 1000cc ­ three laps

Wednesday June 4
10.45 Junior (600cc) ­ four laps
13.15 Sidecar ­ three laps

Friday June 6
10.45 Production 600cc ­ three laps
13.15 Senior TT ­ six laps