The burly Yorkshireman led from start to finish in a race run at incredible speed as the top three riders all broke the lap record on the opening lap. Jefferies then set a new Formula One class and outright lap record on lap two, in 17 minutes 52.2 second, a speed of 126.68mph.

But there was last lap drama as Jefferies slowed with his Suzuki stuck in third gear for the 10-mile run over the Mountain to the finish line.

Second place went to Honda's John McGuinness as the 954 Fireblade rider chased a third TT victory ­ as the annual TT races got under way after a two-year break due to foot and mouth disease forcing the cancellation of last year's event.

McGuinness commented: 'I've just lapped about 27 seconds faster than I've ever done, so I was trying. But David (Jefferies) was just on song today and there was nothing more I could do. But I think we can improve the machine for next Friday's Senior TT race.'

Third place went to veteran Scotsman Jim Moodie but there was heartache for Honda's Adrian Archibald, a fourth lap retirement at the start and finish pits area with an exhaust pipe problem. Ulsterman Archibald held third place at the end of the second lap.

Formula One TT result (six laps ­ 226.38 miles): 1 David Jefferies, GB (Suzuki) 1hr 50m 05.1s ­ 123.38mph, 2 John McGuinness, GB (Honda) 1hr 50m 41.6s ­ 122.70mph, 3 Jim Moodie, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 51m 09.6s ­ 122.19mph, 4 Ian Lougher, GB (Suzuki) 1hr 51m 14.8s ­ 122.09mph, 5 Richard Quayle, GB (Suzuki) 1hr 53m 05.6s ­ 120.10mph, 6 Jason Griffiths, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 54m 02.2s ­ 119.10mph, 7 Richard Britton, GB (Suzuki) 1hr 54m 04.2s ­ 119.07mph, 8 Simon Smith, GB (Suzuki) 1hr 54m 06.1s ­ 119.04mph, 9 Iain Duffus, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 54m 15.2s ­ 118.88mph, 10 Chris Heath, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 54m 27.2s ­ 118.67mph.

Rob Fisher made it into the record books with a ninth Isle of Man TT victory in Saturday evening's opening, three-lap sidecar race.

The Cumbrian drive joins three other drivers on nine wins ­ Mick Boddice, Dave Saville and Siegfried Schauzu ­ as the most successful sidecar men around the 37.73-mile mountain circuit.

Fisher and passenger Rick Long took victory by 21 seconds from Ian Bell and Neil Carpenter with Bell slowing his pace after hitting a kerb at the Laurel Bank section of the circuit on the opening lap.

Pre-race favourite Dave Molyneux took fourth but the seven times winner was in trouble before the race after his passenger Colin Hardman was involved in a road accident just hours before the race.

'Colin's right hand is a mess,' said Molyneux. 'I knew he was in pain during the race but there was nothing I could do. At least we got to the finish and that's credit to Colin's courage.'

Sidecar TT result (three laps ­ 113.19 miles): 1 Rob Fisher / Rick Long, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 01m 25.9s ­ 110.55mph, 2 Ian Bell / Neil Carpenter, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 01m 46.0s ­ 109.95mph, 3 Gary Horspole / Kevin Leigh, GB (Honda) 1hr 02m 06.6s ­ 109.34mph, 4 Dave Molyneux / Colin Hardman, GB (Honda) 1hr 02m 17.1s ­ 109.03mph, 5 Roy Hanks / Dave Wells, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 02m 57.5s ­ 107.87mph, 6 Ben Dixon / Mark Lambert, GB (Honda) 1hr 03m 05.3s ­ 107.64mph, 7 Phillip Dongworth / Stuart Castles, GB (Kawasaki) 1hr 03m 13.6s ­ 107.41mph, 8 Steve Norbury / Andrew Smith, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 03m 44.5s ­ 106.54mph, 9 Mick Harvey / Stephen Thomas, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 03m 55.4s ­ 106.24mph, 10 Kenny Howles / Doug Jewell, GB (Yamaha) 1hr 04m 04.8s ­ 105.98mph.