By Going into the 2013 senior TT, the mountain course was set for a top class battle between Honda TT Legends Racing team mates John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop.
At Glen Helen on lap 1 it was Gary Johnson piloting JRC Racing CBR 1000 Honda Fireblade, who surged into race lead, William Dunlop was second, Michael Dunlop third, Michael Rutter fourth, John McGuinness completed the top five.
By Ramsey though Michael Dunlop had gone into race lead, John McGuinness and Gary Johnson lead the challenge to the rider who at TT 2013 had dazzled in superbike, supersport and superstock races.
End of lap 1 saw Michael Dunlop hold a small advantage of 1.389 seconds over Honda TT Legends Racing team mate John McGuinness. Gary Johnson was third, Michael Rutter fourth, Guy Martin fifth, top six was rounded out by William Dunlop.
Onto lap two and the battle between Dunlop and McGuinness continued.
As lap two went on, it was clear John McGuinness was on a charge, moving into race lead, whilst Tyco Suzuki’s Guy Martin was also showing moving into third place.
Thanks to lap speed of 131.272 mph John McGuinness lead Michael Dunlop at end of lap two by over 2.3 seconds, Guy Martin was third under 7.5 seconds behind the race leader.
Lap three saw McGuinness lead reduced to 2.055 seconds over Dunlop, Bruce Anstey moved into third on HM Plant Honda by Padgetts Motorcycles superbike, as Guy Martin dropped back to fourth.
James Hillier in fifth was maintaining his excellent form, as seen in lightweight TT, when clinched a memorable first TT victory.
Onto lap four which would prove a turning point for the leading contenders out front. John McGuinness extended his lead at the front to in excess of six seconds, he was homing in on his sixth senior TT success.
James Hillier overhauled Guy Martin to move into fourth place, as he lead Kawasaki’s challenge.
Laps five and six saw no change at the front, as McGuinness grew his lead further.
At the end of the sixth and final lap, he crossed the line to win the senior TT, for the sixth time.
It was his 20th TT victory, and his fifth senior TT success on Honda machinery.
Michael Dunlop finished in second place, to wrap up what was a quite sensational TT 2013 for him. Second place finish provided him with victory overall in the Joey Dunlop championship trophy for the first time.
Bruce Anstey made it a Honda 1-2-3 on the podium, following a high quality display. James Hillier proved he was now amongst the elite bracket of riders at TT Races, following fine fourth place finish.
Guy Martin battled away on Tyco Suzuki to finish in fifth, Michael Rutter concluded the top six finishers.
William Dunlop was seventh, Dean Harrison a highly creditable eighth, Dan Stewart ninth, David Johnson tenth, Lee Johnston secured TT privateers championship victory, following 11th place finish.
Further standout performances included Stephen Thompson in 15th, Ben Wylie in 19th, Jimmy Storrar in 21st, leading newcomer was Horst Saiger, who finished a more than creditable 23rd.
The race also marked ten time TT winner Ian Lougher’s final action at TT Races. Ian ended his TT Races career with 20th place finish on WA Corless Joinery/Jackson Racing CBR 1000 Honda Fireblade.
In all a quite brilliant 2013 senior TT, which saw great battles out front, rising stars showcasing their talents around the mountain course, plus many a standout performance.
A lot of people have their own interpretation on how the 2013 senior TT was won. Following the race, some believe that the outcome of the race was decided behind close doors within the factory Honda team.
Despite this it was still a top class race, which saw pure road racing of the highest quality, on the most iconic of all pure road racing circuit’s, the mountain course.
