Tim Reeves marked his debut in the Isle of Man TT with a third place finish on Saturday.

The Aylesford racer’s podium finish was the first for a newcomer on the TT circuit since 1978.

World F1 champion Reeves, along with passenger Patrick Farrance started 10th on the grid after a sensational practice week on their F2 machine, which saw the newcomer enjoy a flying lap of 110.362 mph around the 37 and three quarter lap mountain course.

The race was won by Nick Crowe while John Holden finished second.

Reeves was sitting fourth, behind Simon Neary, and scrapping it out with Phil Dongworth but a stroke of luck for the Kent racer saw him claim third.

Neary was forced to retire on the last lap, leaving Reeves who was lapping above 111mph, to take third just 2.8 seconds ahead of Dongworth.

Reeves said: "So many people knocked us and said that although we are World champions we wouldn’t be able to cut it on the Island, but I think we have just proved the doubters wrong.”

Race two takes place on Wednesday.

Race one results: 1 Nick Crowe (Mark Cox) 59.22:80, 2 John Holden (Andrew Winkle) 59.42:24, 3 Tim Reeves (Patrick Farrance) 1.01.07:84, 4 Phil Dongworth (Stuart Castles) 01.01.10:68, 5 Nigel Connole (Dipash Chauhan) 01.01.46:90.