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Delayed by two hours due to overnight inclement weather, Classic TT feature race day contests were opened by the brought forward, cut to two-laps Historic Senior Race.
At 11:15 AM, we hit ignition go time with John McGuinness MBE (Team Winfield – Paton) first away.
2023 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Joe Yeardsley (Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV – Royal Enfield) sped off ten seconds later before TT 2025 Superstock race winner x2 Dean Harrison (Craven Classic Racing/Ted Woof – Matchless G50) gained the tap on the shoulder.
The 31st and final racer to get underway was Robert Stephen Walsh (Jeff Smith/Assured Power Services – Honda).
There was early disappointment for reigning category winner Shaun Anderson, only getting as far as Union Mills.
Hefyn Owen, Jonathan Perry soon joined him on the side-lines.
First to Glen Helen, McGuinness MBE pocketed a lead of almost five seconds which then increased to 6.993 over Davies Motorsport’s Paul Jordan, who usurped qualifying week leader Michael Browne (Peter Lodge Racing – Norton) for second.
By a long distance fastest across the Sulby speed trap (146.812) 23 times TT winner McGuinness MBE’s lead expanded further to 8.742 at Ramsey.
Browne re-took second as 500T Suzuki equipped Jordan retired at Parliament Square.
McGuinness MBEs’ lead was slightly reduced post the Bungalow not by Browne but by the third new second place holder from the past three timing sectors, Tobermore’s Adam McLean.
McLean then out of the blue grabbed the race-lead at Cronk ny Mona and then added drama in spades as McGuinness MBE (108.601) hampered by a puncture, entered the pits after completing his standing start lap.
The top six as lap one concluded was McLean (109.806), Browne (109.555), McGuinness MBE (now retired), Harrison, Ian Lougher, Barry Furber.
Early chapters of lap two saw Flitwick Motorcycles sponsored McLean, Armoy ‘Race of Legends’ winner Browne closely matched.
Prior to entering Sulby, McLean’s gap over Browne was only 2.4 seconds (2.405 to be exact).
Browne then clinched at Ramsey for the first time P1 reigns. With three timing sectors to go his lead stood at 1.335 seconds.
Covered by 0.868 through the Bungalow, who would have the spot on race craft to score Historic Senior Classic TT glory? The answer Browne (110.737) by 0.268 of a second!
Harrison took third 56.944 behind McLean (lap two – lap speed – 110.457) with Lougher 5.213 additionally behind.
Furber pipped Michael Sweeney (CSC Racing/IMS Ltd – Yamaha) for fifth as Conor Cummins (P7 – Steadplan Racing – Honda), Michael Evans (P8 – Melbray Racing Norton), Davey Todd (P9 – Steadplan Racing – Yamaha) fresh from a trying BSB Cadwell tenure, Alan Oversby (P10 – Ruthless Racing – Honda) finalised the top ten finishers.
Sole newcomer competing Jeffrey Vermeulen, gained an excellent eleventh place finish.
Eight more pilots took the chequered flag, Harley Rushton (P12), Tom Snow (P13), Andy Hornby (P14), Maria Costello MBE (P15).
Russell Roebury (P16), Velocette propelled Rhys Hardisty (P17), Andrew Guy (P18), Justin Roebury (P19) and Andrew Green (P20).
Post Race Reaction:
Michael Browne
“It’s good, trying to get that for the last three years for Pete Lodge and their team, they have come a long way, so it was nice to give it back to them.”
“It was tight, I pushed on the second lap, I knew I put in a good few sectors that would bring me back into contention but when I got to the gooseneck, I thought I saw P1 +10 and took my time over the mountain tried to bring her home, did not realise I was P1 +0, it was tight.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
The top six as lap one concluded was McLean (109.806), Browne (109.555), McGuinness MBE (now retired), Harrison, Ian Lougher, Barry Furber.
Early chapters of lap two saw Flitwick Motorcycles sponsored McLean, Armoy ‘Race of Legends’ winner Browne closely matched.
Prior to entering Sulby, McLean’s gap over Browne was only 2.4 seconds (2.405 to be exact).
Browne then clinched at Ramsey for the first time P1 reigns. With three timing sectors to go his lead stood at 1.335 seconds.
Covered by 0.868 through the Bungalow, who would have the spot on race craft to score Historic Senior Classic TT glory? The answer Browne (110.737) by 0.268 of a second!
Harrison took third 56.944 behind McLean (lap two – lap speed – 110.457) with Lougher 5.213 additionally behind.
Furber pipped Michael Sweeney (CSC Racing/IMS Ltd – Yamaha) for fifth as Conor Cummins (P7 – Steadplan Racing – Honda), Michael Evans (P8 – Melbray Racing Norton), Davey Todd (P9 – Steadplan Racing – Yamaha) fresh from a trying BSB Cadwell tenure, Alan Oversby (P10 – Ruthless Racing – Honda) finalised the top ten finishers.
Sole newcomer competing Jeffrey Vermeulen, gained an excellent eleventh place finish.
Eight more pilots took the chequered flag, Harley Rushton (P12), Tom Snow (P13), Andy Hornby (P14), Maria Costello MBE (P15).
Russell Roebury (P16), Velocette propelled Rhys Hardisty (P17), Andrew Guy (P18), Justin Roebury (P19) and Andrew Green (P20).
Post Race Reaction:
Michael Browne
“It’s good, trying to get that for the last three years for Pete Lodge and their team, they have come a long way, so it was nice to give it back to them.”
“It was tight, I pushed on the second lap, I knew I put in a good few sectors that would bring me back into contention but when I got to the gooseneck, I thought I saw P1 +10 and took my time over the mountain tried to bring her home, did not realise I was P1 +0, it was tight.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
