Dave Molyneux and Dan Sayle made a blistering start to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co-sponsored Southern 100 on Monday evening.

The DMR Yamaha pair completed four laps of the 4.25-mile Billown Course in near-perfect conditions, the fastest of which was at an average of 100.288mph.

This was almost two seconds faster than last year’s champion Tim Reeves, and passenger Mark Wilkes who won the title together in 2015.

John Holden and local sidekick Lee Cain were third quickest at 98.671mph, with double TT winners Ben and Tom Birchall fourth quickest.

Michael Dunlop’s lap of 110.899mph on the 1,000cc Suzuki was the quickest overall on the night, although Dan Kneen (DTR BMW) and Dean Harrison (Kawasaki) both also lapped at 110mph plus, within one second of Dunlop’s fastest of only two laps he completed.

James Cowton, Jamie Coward and Dean Harrison topped the 600cc class at speeds in excess of 108mph, while Cowton also led the way in the 650cc class with an average speed of 101.747mph, closely followed by Ivan Lintin.

The Kawasaki of Ballymoney man Darryl Tweed was the quickest 400 at a speed of 96.8mph.

Newcomer Paul Marley of Scarborough crashed at Church Bends in the first session and was taken by airmed to Noble’s Hospital with fractures.

Practice continues this evening (Tuesday) at 6.20pm, with the first race at 7.40pm.