By Forty-seven victories, sixty-six top three finishes, the Mountain Course racing numbers keep going up, up and up for Michael Dunlop MBE.
The three laps in distance Lightweight Classic TT saw Dunlop MBE mix typical huge determination, core consistent speed with two stroke racing craft.
As during the previous F1 Superbike race, the Ballymoney racer gained heaps of time on the opposition in the pits, led by Laycock Racing’s Michael Browne, who was just half a second adrift at lap one’s end.
Over thirteen seconds ahead at Glen Helen on lap two, the TT wins record holder (final lap – lap speed – 119.081 mph) jockeying the Milenco by Padgetts RS 250 Honda, proved unstoppable from here, finishing with a race winning advantage, exceeding three minutes!
Armoy ‘Race of Legends’ winner Browne retirement from second on lap two, enabled Michael Sweeney (IMS – CSC Racing – TZ 250 Yamaha) to net P2 with Rhys Hardisty (GATC – Phil Anslow – TZ 250 Yamaha) third after last lap problems for Chris ‘Rabbit’ Moore.
Remaining race finishers fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh respectively were Michael Grigson, Will Loder, Belgian racer Jeffrey Vromant, and newcomer Steve Bayley.
In terms of the concurrently run Ultra Lightweight contest, Mountain Course racing returnee, G2 Technical Services LTD backed, Joe Loughlin, Royal Enfield employee, fellow ZXR 400 Kawasaki pilot Owen Monaghan, shared leadership roles before Loughlin re-took control when most needed, ultimately banking a first Classic TT win by twenty-two seconds plus.
Green Racing, Island Fuels supported Paul Cassidy, the leading non-Kawasaki rider, pocketed third whilst top 125 pilot in fifth was Tom Snow astride his own RS 125 Honda.
Post Race Reaction:
First time Mountain Course race winner, Joe Loughlin:
“Unbelievable! can’t believe it, a lot harder than I thought it was going to be after such a good practice week.
Last lap was push on, push on and I knew it was going to be up there but didn’t think it was going to be that much over, 113.5, really happy.
First big win, second in the Northwest, second in the Ulster Grand Prix and eventually on the top step of a big race.”
Ultra Lightweight Classic TT – Race Result:
1st – Joe Loughlin
2nd – Owen Monaghan
3rd – Paul Cassidy
4th – Steven Price
5th – Tom Snow
6th – Brandon Brinded
7th – Simon Collins
8th – Shelley Pike
9th – Ashley Robson
10th – Kyle Parkes
11th – Steve Sewell
12th – Ian Soilleux
13th – Chris Meyer
14th – Jeff Smith
15th – Harley Rushton
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
