IAN Mackman is going faster than ever before at the Isle of Man TT.The mechanic, who works at Bill Smith Motors in Boughton, is competing for the fourth time at the world-famous island event. He was 10th in the Superbike TT last Friday – equalling his best Isle of Man finish – before going one better on Monday, racing to ninth in the Supersport race.The 31-year-old had lapped at an average speed of 120.3mph, the best of his TT career, on a loaned Triumph Daytona 675. Mackman climbed back on board his own Suzuki GSXR 1,000 later that day and rode to 15th place in the Superstock race.He said: “It wasn’t a bad result but after my two top-10 finishes, it was a slight blow”The results were enough to carry him to the top of the privateers’ championship for independent racers. He was in action again yesterday as The Chronicle went to press.This year’s TT has been tinged with tragedy following the death of three competitors, including Great Sutton sidecar driver Bill Currie.Picture by GLYNNE LEWIS