By Overhauling long-term P1 occupier Michael Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing – Honda), Michael Dunlop MBE (MD Racing BMW) took his Irish road race victories accumulation to 131 with a hard-fought success in the Tandragee 100, McCrum’s Motorcycles Open Race.
2.388 in arrears to Browne as lap two beckoned in continually mixed, damp, drying conditions, lap three saw Dunlop MBE take 1.6 seconds plus out of the Cork’s rider’s lead. Notable early race retirements included Michael Sweeney (third in qualifying) and Daracore Racing’s Kevin Keyes.
Browne held firm on lap four before Dunlop MBE made a decisive move to the front at lap five’s end.
By the time the top two, reached Bells Cross on the sixth and final lap, Dunlop MBE had the race sealed.
The TT wins record-holder went onto sped past the start-finish stretch, clinching as previously-stated, a 131st Irish road race win by the margin of 4.169 seconds.
Conor Cummins (Conrod Motorsport BMW) joined Dunlop MBE, Browne on the race rostrum, after just getting the better of Ryan Whitehall for P3.
Kells Grand Final runner-up Marcus Simpson placed fifth, Shaun Buckle via aggregate timing, was a great sixth.
Darryl Anderson (P7), Lightweight Supersport qualifying winner Joe Loughlin (P8), James Chawke (P9), Richard ‘Richie’ McLoughlin (P10) swept positions seventh to tenth.
Around A Pound Tandragee 100 – Open Race Result:
1st – Michael Dunlop MBE
2nd – Michael Browne
3rd – Conor Cummins
4th – Ryan Whitehall
5th – Marcus Simpson
6th – Shaun Buckle
7th – Darryl Anderson
8th – Joe Loughlin
9th – James Chawke
10th – Richard McLoughlin
11th – Dermot Cleary
12th – Joey Thompson
13th – Owen Monaghan
14th – Rad Hughes
15th – Paul Cranston
Photo credit: Tommy Vennard
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
