[1] For the 2008 Isle of Man TT Races, following the deaths of a race competitor and two spectators at the 26th Milestone during the 2007 Senior TT a number of changes occurred in spectator safety and road widening occurred at Braddan Bridge and a new link road and mini-roundabout at Governor's Bridge.

It was Guy Martin, despite a crash at the 2008 Pre-TT Classic earlier in the day, that dominated the first timed practice session on Monday 26 May 2008 with a lap of 17 minutes and 57.83 seconds an average speed of 126.020 mph on a 1000cc Honda for the Superbike TT race.

[7] The 2008 TT Newcomer, James McBride had a high speed crash at Gorse Lea on Monday evening practice suffering leg fractures.

[8] With problems with cancellations due to poor weather on the Snaefell Mountain Course the pole time for the Superbike TT race was set by John McGuinness in 17 minutes, 32.24 seconds an average speed of 129.085 mph.

[10] The early lead was held by Ian Hutchinson at Glen Helen on lap 1 riding a 1000cc Yamaha and only 8 seconds covered the top 12 competitors.

Despite the delayed start, Guy Martin stormed to the lead by Parliament Square in Ramsey on lap1 by 0.43 seconds from John McGuinness with the Australian Cameron Donald riding a 1000cc Suzuki in 3rd place.

The lead was reduced to 10.21 seconds by Ramsey Hairpin by Cameron Donald on lap 3 and fellow Suzuki rider Adrian Archibald replaced Ryan Farquhar in 4th place.

On the last lap, Bruce Anstey tried to increase his pace to wrestle the lead from his Suzuki teammate, "I tried to pull away in the last-lap, but could't manage it so I let Cameron back in front again and just followed him home.

The first competitor away from the TT Grandstand was the 600cc DMR Suzuki sidecar outfit of Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle that immediately retired at the end of the pit-lane with clutch problems.

Due to the increasing race speed of Nick Crowe/Mark Crowe and problems experienced by John Holden/Andrew Winkle with a failing rear shock absorber they slipped 4.19 seconds behind the new leaders of Crowe/Cox at Ramsey Hairpin on lap 2.

This lead increased to 12 seconds by Glen Helen on lap 3 for Crowe/Cox and the Yamaha sidecar of Simon Neary/Jamie Winn retired at Union Mills allowing TT newcomer Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance into 3rd place.

In respect to his decision to enter the Isle of Man TT Races, Tim Reeves had some harsh comments;- "I had some many doubters.

By the time that McGuinness arrived at Ramsey Hairpin on lap 1 the other competitors had increased their race pace and he now only led by 0.16 seconds from the Suzuki of Cameron Donald.

With further damp patches between Ramsey Hairpin and the Water Works Corner and mixed weather including mist on the Mountain Section, it was Cameron Donald that seized the initiative and now led McGuinness at the Bungalow by a narrow margin of 1.10 seconds.

A delay caused by an overflow of petrol for McGuinness during refuelling at a pit-stop at the end of lap 2 increased the lead for Cameron Donald to 8 seconds.

Problems with a fuel-cap lost 5 seconds for Conor Cummins in pit-lane and allowed Ryan Farquhar to claim 4th place.

The pre-race favourite, the 600cc Suzuki of Bruce Anstey led at Glen Helen by 1.7 seconds from the 600cc Yamaha of Ian Hutchinson and John McGuinness riding a Honda in 3rd place.

After reaching the official timing point at Ballaugh Bridge on lap 1, Bruce Anstey now led by 6 seconds from McGuinness in 2nd place.

This was increased to 1.0 seconds at Ballaugh Bridge and Ian Hutchinson led the 600cc Hondas of John McGuinness and Guy Martin in 3rd place.

As the official timing-point at Ramsey Hairpin was reached on lap 1, the 600cc Suzuki of Bruce Anstey now led by 0.41 second from Ian Hutchinson and Guy Martin.

The 600cc Kawasaki of Ryan Farquhar was now in 4th place and was timed on the Sulby Straight at 172.50 mph[19] as the 600cc Honda of John McGuinness slowed with an oil-leak and eventually retired at the end of the first lap.

The winner of Mondays Superport race, Steve Plater retired his 600cc Yamaha at the Bungalow along with the 600cc Honda of Keith Amor on lap 1 after he had experienced a small fire on the descent down Bray Hill after a lead from the wiring-loom worked loose and melted on the carbon-fibre bodywork.

Passing Molyneux/Dan Sayle on the road at Braddan Bridge the lead for Nick Crowe/Mark Cox was 10.47 seconds ahead on lap 2 at Glen Helen.

The 600cc Suzuki outfit of Kenny Howles/Doug Jewell crashed at the 11th Milestone on lap 2 and the sidecar crew were air-lifted to Nobles Hospital.

The winner Nick Crowe said the close racing with Dave Molyneux that;- "....you could not have put a cigarette paper between us at times – in fact I'sure we did touch fairings in places.

The former 1950s TT competitor Sammy Miller crashed a twin-cylinder 1978 Ducati 900SS motor-cycle at the Water Works Corner during the parade lap and was unhurt.

The local Isle of Man TT rider, Conor Cummins retired at the 2nd Milestone on lap 1 near Union Mills after his 1000cc Yamaha suffered an oil-leak.

At Glen Helen on lap 1, despite also having a suspected oil-leak the 1000cc Honda of John McGuinness led by 0.4 seconds from the 1000cc Yamaha of Ian Hutchinson and the 1000cc Suzuki of Bruce Anstey in 3rd place.

The run over the Mountain Section proved to be crucial as with Bruce Anstey on lap 1 his Suzuki teammate, Cameron Donald claiming a lead of 3.1 seconds over the Honda of John McGuinness at the official timing-point at the Bungalow.

As Cameron Donald slowed his pace with an oil-leak from a split crankcase on the last lap, John McGuinness produced the fastest lap of the race in 17 minutes and 28.54 seconds an average speed of 129.517 mph which was only 6.73 seconds slower than the 130.354 mph outright record set during the 2007 Centenary TT Races.