Just when the nineties had settled into a predictable pattern of Honda dominance and headline victories for Phillip McCallen, the TT was turned on its head by a new super-pairing: David Jefferies and the Yamaha R1. The burly Yorkshireman left no one in doubt about who the new TT star was, storming to the first of three consecutive hat-tricks.

Elsewhere, there was heartbreak for teammate Ian Duffus, but a famous first victory for John McGuinness. Jim Moodie continued to eke out more wins, while Dave Molyneux and Rob Fisher kept their fierce three-wheel rivalry alive.