If I recall correctly, the abort was done relatively gently because the crew thought that the thump they felt was in fact, a tyre burst and not an engine problem. This, and the fact that the crew decided to clear the runway at the next taxyway before stopping to evacuate, took valuable seconds which sadly proved critical for cabin survival.
I believe that Boeing, (in commentating later about the accident) made the point that once a decision is made to abort following a serious problem, it should be made with maximum braking until the aircraft has stopped - and straight ahead. This is because the true seriousness of the problem may not be immediately apparent to the crew, and every second may be vital for evacuation.
Being very wise after the event, the Manchester accident could have resulted in less lives lost if this advice had been documented earlier. Like many manufacturer's, Boeing publish recommended procedures but rarely explain the rationale behind each procedure. For the more critical emergency procedures, I have always felt that a concise explanation would be of significant operational value.
[ 30 September 2001: Message edited by: Centaurus ]