TT Races lap record holder Michael Dunlop powered his way to victory in the open race, at the 2016 SGS International Armoy Road Races, as he made it ten victories thus far in what has been already a quite magnificent 2016 roads campaign for him.
Piloting his own teams S1000RR BMW that he took open race wins at Skerries and Walderstown, he produced yet another majestic performance today at Armoy, underlining his undoubted pre race favourite status.
Derek Sheils under 1.7 seconds behind in second, was once again very impressive on the Cookstown BE Racing GSX-R 1000 Suzuki.
William Dunlop finished third as he produced in my opinion one of his best superbike display’s to date, on his YZF R1M Yamaha mount, which he first competed on competitively at TT 2016.
Dan Kneen secured fourth place whilst Noel Williamson Racing’s Derek McGee, finished a more than creditable fifth.
Michael Sweeney on the Martin Jones Racing ZX10R Kawasaki was sixth as Michal Dokoupil lead the Honda challenge, with the Wilson Craig Racing CBR 1000 Honda Fireblade.
2004 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Davy Morgan sealed eighth place finish, Andy Farrell in ninth finished leading supersport runner on the B&W Racing CBR 600 Honda.
Additional riders to impress included Armoy newcomers Dominic Herbertson and Forest Dunn 10th and 13th, Dean Campbell 16th and Stephen Tobin 18th.
With one win secured, will Michael Dunlop make it six race of legends victories, later on today?
It’s fair to say the 13 times TT winner, will start the favourite, as he aims for what would be the latest addition to a golden pure road racing CV.
Photo by Rod Neill
Armoy – Open Race Results:
1 Michael Dunlop
2 Derek Sheils
3 William Dunlop
4 Dan Kneen
5 Derek McGee
6 Michael Sweeney
7 Michal Dokoupil
8 Davy Morgan
9 Andy Farrell
10 Dominic Herbertson
11 James Cowton
12 Stephen McKnight
13 Forest Dunn
14 Adam McLean
15 Paul Cranston
16 Dean Campbell
17 Dennis Booth
18 Stephen Tobin
19 Graham Kennedy
20 Donald MacFadyen
21 Brendan Merrigan
22 Stephen Degnan
Words by Stevie Rial