Manx GP: Early end following accident and deteriorating conditions

The first day of the combined Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT event on the Isle of Man was reserved for the amateurs. The professionals will not be holding their first practice session until today, Monday – provided the weather cooperates. However, the forecast is not exactly promising. Rain showers and low-hanging clouds in the mountains could disrupt the evening’s programme.

After the newcomers – including Belgian European Series Road Racing runner-up Laurent Hoffmann, Germany’s Chris Meyer, Moritz Klaus and Lorenz Rothärmel, the Swiss rider Mauro Poncini and the Austrian Thomas Altendorfer – had completed their first lap of the infamous Snaefell Mountain Course behind an experienced guide, the hunt for the fastest times could begin.

However, qualifying for the Junior MGP and Sportbike classes had to be stopped with a red flag after just five minutes due to a serious crash. The Italian Salvatore Sallustro, who had finished third in the Superbike class at this year’s Landshaag hill climb, had crashed on his first lap at Greeba Bridge.

After receiving first aid at the scene of the accident, the two-time European Hillclimb Champion was airlifted by rescue helicopter to Noble’s Hospital. The organisers did not initially provide any information on his condition.

Due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, qualifying could not be resumed. The riders, who had been waiting along the 60-kilometre-long route following the incident, were escorted back to the paddock by a ‘travelling marshal’ once the rescue operations had concluded, in conditions where it was at times pouring with rain.

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