With Organisers dealing with the after effects of incidents at Union Mills, Whitegates during the morning warm-up session, the reduced in distance Dunlop Lightweight race began forty-five minutes behind schedule at 1:30 PM.
No.1 plate holder, Dominic Herbertson astride the John Chapman Racing Honda, was first to make the trip down to Bray Hill.
Quickest on the run to Glen Helen was Laylaw Racing’s Michael Browne, who headed practice week leader Jim Hind by 2.439 seconds.
Browne continued to lead at Ballaugh Bridge but at Ramsey it was all change, with Hind charging up to P1.
By the completion of lap one, Hind, Browne both breaking the existing Lightweight MGP lap record, lapping respectively at 117.592, 117.403 mph, were separated by just under two seconds.
At the beginning of the second, final lap, there was still nothing in it between Hind and Browne.
As the leading trio reached Ramsey, it seemed as though Hind was homing in on a third Manx GP victory, having moved 7.39 seconds clear.
19.66 seconds ahead of Cork’s Browne at the Bungalow, cruel misfortune would strike the Dennis Trollope Yamaha mounted racer, who failed to make it took to Cronk Ny Mona.
With Hind out of contention, this enabled Irish Road Race 125/Moto 3 Champion Browne to comfortably clinch a first Mountain Course race triumph.
Joining Hind on the retired racers list was aforementioned one plate holder Herbertson, who’s rostrum finishing charge culminated at the 33rd Milestone.
This enabled ten times TT winner Ian Lougher to make it a Laylaw Racing 1-2 whilst Stuart Hall claimed a dream third place finish.
Welshman Rhys Hardisty banked fourth, 8.8 seconds in arrears to Hall as Chris Moore, Goole’s Phil Harvey finalised the top six finishers.
Positions seventh to tenth were occupied by Irish Road Race Superbike Champion Michael Sweeney, Richard Wilson, MGP newcomer Gareth Arnold and Tom Snow.
Others to complete the two-lap encounter were Simon Hunt (11th), Adrian Morris (12th), Will Loder (13th), Richard Parker (14th), Adrian Skaife (15th) and David Glover (16th).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
