With only a single night of timed practice so far completed at this year's Isle of Man TT, you'd be forgiven for thinking that more than a few racers are still feeling a little bit rusty around the 37.73-mile Mountain circuit.
But the opening night's fastest rider Dean Harrison says he's ready to go racing already thanks to a strong start not just at the TT but to his 2025 campaign as a whole.
So far only one timed session (on Wednesday night) has been completed in the practice and qualifying week. Monday's opening practice was rained off, damp conditions on Tuesday meant that session was run untimed and then Thursday's running was cancelled because low cloud on the mountain section meant the medical helicopter couldn't fly.
Harrison was nonetheless fast out of the blocks to complete a superbike lap averaging well over 133mph, 15 seconds faster than closest rival Davey Todd.
"I could race tomorrow," factory Honda racer Harrison told The Race. "I feel OK as I am.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm still refining things and I feel like we could make all the bikes a bit better, but you're constantly refining here. Everyone's in that same boat.
"But if you said that we're going to the line in the morning, I'm fine!
"I don't really feel like I rode outside of myself last night, I feel like I rode well on the bike, and when it comes naturally it makes you feel better too. But I feel good this year. I'm fitter than I've ever been, and there's lots of little things like just eating better that are all helping."
And while conditions might not have played ball so far, Harrison said that the strategy played so far by the TT organiser to maximise track time has been efficient. As well as the decision to still run in the damp as an untimed session on Tuesday, the Friday timetable has been expanded to make up for some of the lost running.
The TT's handling of the challenges has been welcomed by many other racers, though they may not share Harrison's confidence in how quick they can be without more pre-race mileage. Expect to see many performing better in their category's second race than their first as they use that to settle in.
"The first night was a bit sketchy," Harrison added, "but it didn't matter.
"Pete [Hickman] hit the nail on the head earlier at the riders' briefing. He said that it's a good idea to go out even when it's like that, because if someone has a misfire or your gearbox isn't right, little things, then it's not timed and you can go out and see what works, park it, and you've still got a qualifying lap done.
"Then when the weather is good, you can go like we did. Luckily, even when he conditions were a bit patchy everyone was a bit sensible about it and used their brains and it worked quite well."
The confidence he has shown so far comes after a strong start to the 2025 season for Harrison, who as well as competing in the international road racing calendar is also lining up in the British Supersport championship and currently sits fifth in the standings there.
Coming to the TT with confidence not only from those strong results but also at the North West 200 - where he was unlucky to miss out on a win but took a series of podium finishes - the three-time Isle of Man TT winner looks to be coming into the most important race of his year on a new high.
"It's a shame that I didn't get a win," he said of the North West 200, "but we were there or thereabouts in every race and pushing at the front. It's nice to be competitive in all classes.
"I'm trying to maximise the potential of every bike I’ve got, and of myself. The bikes are good, so it's just trying to get the best out of myself and to be sharp out of the box and go from there.
"Running strong in the British championship helps. It’s building confidence, thinking that I can actually do it. As long as you’re riding your bike at a fast level, as long as you're competitive somewhere, it makes a difference for confidence, for the belief in yourself."
And with that confidence comes high goals for Harrison, with victories in all three of his TT classes the clear target for 2025.
"The target is six wins, then we'll go from there, go home, and drink beer!" he joked.
"I definitely think we're capable of it. I feel strongest on the supersport and the superbike, but the stocker [superstock bike] felt good last night and there's more to come from it.
"The potential of the bikes is massive, and I still feel like we've got more to get out of them. We're constantly developing and improving them every day."
