By Road Racing News, 2022 Race of The Year award goes to, drum roll, the second Supersport A encounter at the Southern 100.
Showcasing Billown course action at its’ best, the S&S Motors backed seven-lap race, featured a titanic four-way battle for honours between Davey Todd, Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop and Jamie Coward.
The ‘big four’ out front, kept close proximity across opening laps and by lap three’s conclusion it was still anyone’s race.
As lap five dawned, 21 times TT winner Dunlop lapping at 110.316 mph had moved up to second and was only 0.139 down on 2019 IRRC Superbike Champion Todd.
Soon with typical determination, Dunlop had grabbed the lead from Milenco by Padgetts Todd.
Just 0.329 separated Dunlop, Todd, DAO Racing’s Harrison as lap five ended, who could find that extra piece of magic, extra piece of star quality to win this gripping 600cc encounter.
The answer was 109 times Irish road race winner Dunlop after a frantic final lap.
Dunlop set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap, lapping at 2 minutes 18.203 seconds.
DAO Racing’s Harrison placed second, only 0.159 in arrears to respected rival Dunlop.
Long term race leader, future National Superstock 1000 Champion Todd took third with TT Privateers Champion, KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan’s Coward taking fourth.
Dafabet Racing’s Rob Hodson placed fifth as PreZ Racing’s Paul Jordan, Nathan Harrison, Rhys Hardisty, Marcus Simpson, Jamie Williams completed the top ten finishers.
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
