By Joining Joey Dunlop, Ian Lougher, Guy Martin on four Solo Championship victories, Dean Harrison illustrated ten-fold yesterday afternoon, why he now ranks amongst the top Southern 100 exponents in history.
Attaining the hole shot, the Honda Racing UK rider was-never led in the nine-lap Ellan Vannin Fuels Solo Championship race.
Before surpassing his own, existing outright lap-record, I for one knew from watching how hard he was pushing, via the King of The Roads live coverage, that a striking lap-time, looked a more than distinct possibility.
Lap two’s completion confirmed this prophecy, 2 minutes 10.032 seconds’, equating mph wise to 117.663.
This history making pace injection, left Harrison 1.1 in front of fastest Motor Isle Billown Course newcomer of all time, 8TEN Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman.
Remaining race laps, saw seven times TT winner Harrison (aboard 2026 Senior TT winning apparatus) not let up, drop his speed.
By lap six’s completion, race spoils were barring unforeseen circumstances signed and sealed.
Able to roll off the pace on the ninth and final lap, his end race winning gap to Brian Duffy Trophy award winner Hickman stood at 6.910 seconds.
Michael Browne, now the Republic of Ireland’s quickest Motor Isle Billown Course competitor, fifth fastest ever S100 racer, bested Nathan Harrison for third, after a clean race long-battle.
Ending an extremely below par, by his standards event in fifth was TT wins record-holder Michael Dunlop MBE, who from the outside looking in, appeared to be having niggly issues with Hawk Racing supported Honda SBK tackle.
Bushy’s Brewery Lightweight race victor Paul Jordan attained sixth, Conor Cummins ended his first S100 venture in twelve years, finishing a solid seventh, marginally ahead of SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson.
Kells Grand Final runner-up Marcus Simpson, rostrum finisher x3 from previous races Dominic Herbertson took ninth, tenth place finishes.
Seven additional racers completed the ‘Friendly Races’ showpiece contest, Jonathan Perry (P11), event debutant Julian Trummer (P12), Michael Evans (P13), TT Privateers Champion Barry Furber (P14).
French star Amalric Blanc (P15), Sam West (P16), and IRRC Sportbike front-runner Jamie Williams (P17).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
