This evening’s planned Sportbike race has been called off after a heavy shower in the west.

Rain had caused disruption earlier in the day, but organisers had hoped to get both the first Supersport and Sportbike races of the week on.

However, around 5.30pm showers in the west ended the hope of running the second race this evening.

Organisers confirmed shortly after there would be no further racing today.

The statement read: ‘Due to heavy showers coming in over the west side of the island and further showers forecast for the remainder of the evening, the Clerk of the Course has confirmed that no further race action will take place today.’

A revised schedule for tomorrow (Wednesday) is expected later this evening, but with a poor forecast for both then and Thursday in reality the next Mountain Course action might not be till the end of the week.

Indeed Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson MBE said earlier today that he expected there to be racing on the festival’s final contingency day of Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the event’s most successful rider Michael Dunlop claimed his 34th win in the three-lap Supersport race.