Johnny Stewart backed up some impressive qualifying performances to win Saturday’s Sportbike Manx Grand Prix.

The Galashields rider set the tone from the off, breaking the class’s lap record on the opening lap, before breaking it again on the third and final lap.

His time on that latter circuit of 19 minutes 22.474 seconds (116.844mph) helped him to a 22.456s win over runner-up Eddy Wormald who was on a Yamaha R7. Stewart was also well inside the race record for the event.

Wormald was in turn 4.5s up on newcomer Kevin Lavery who claimed an impressive third in debut race around the Mountain Course.

In the winner’s enclosure, Aprilia-mounted Stewart said: ‘I’ve been consistent all and week and tried to do more of the same.

‘It’s mega. We’ve tried so hard over the last few years.

‘We had some reliability issues last year and invested a lot this year to get it right.’

Reflecting on his race, Wormald added: ‘I got my head down and felt a lot more comfortable than I have earlier in the week.’

Dungannon man Lavery was ecstatic after his standout result. He said: ‘I can’t describe how I’m feeling - I can’t believe it.

‘I’m over the moon.

‘Everything just fell into place - there were no scary moments at all.’

Behind the top three, Andrew Farrell was fourth, Graham McAleese was fifth and late entrant, Sulby’s Dan Sayle, sixth.

Newcomer, Kyle Casement from Onchan, produced a good ride to finish 11th on the Faraldo Racing Aprilia.

Fellow Manxies Illy Quayle, Luke Blevins and Dale Brew were both inside the top 20 on the Mountain Course race debuts. Quayle who finished 13th said: ‘It was mega - I took a bit long to get going, but I relaxed a bit on the last lap and it felt quite flowing. I’m really happy.’

Blevins was 15th and Brew 18th, while Blake Kelly finished just outside the top 20 in 22nd spot.

Racing continues this afternoon following a Classic TT qualifying lap.

The four-lap Supersport Manx Grand Prix is due to get under way at 2.45pm.

Full report in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.