By The opening race of the 2012 Southern 100 saw conditions that where pretty
much perfect. From the start it was Michael Dunlop who got the hole shot
and by the end of lap 1 of the 600/1000 race had a 0.480 second lead over
Guy Martin on the Tyco Suzuki by TAS superbike with Ryan Farquhar in 3rd
place and Conor Cummins in 4th place. By the end of lap 2 Michael Dunlops
lead over Guy Martin was now over a second with Ryan Farquhar still in
third place. Lap 3 and 4 remained the same position wise and by lap 5
Michael Dunlop broke his own existing lap record to fully break away from
Guy Martin & Ryan Farquhar.
Battles where happening all down the field in particular the battle for
6th position between Russ Mountford, Jamie Hamilton, Dean Harrison and
Michael Pearson. This battle went on for many laps until Mountford made
a slight mistake and then was forced to retire back to the pits. Back
up at the front Michael Dunlop continued to lead and break away and despite
on the last lap easing off a little he still finished a comfortable 3 seconds
ahead of Guy Martin. Conor Cummins took third place after snatching the
position on the final lap from Ryan Farquhar on his KMR Kawasaki.
The top 10 in the race was rounded out by Ian Lougher, Jamie Hamilton
Dean Harrison, Michael Pearson, Lee Vernon and Scott Wilson. Fastest lap
of the race and a new lap record went to Michael Dunlop on his Honda
Fireblade superbike with a lap time of 2:15:892.
Ivan Lintin was the first 600 home with a new record speed lap for the
600 class with James Coward taking a close second place. Irish newcomers
to the Southern 100 circuit Seamus Elliott and Stephen Mcknight where the
3rd and 4th placed 600s in the race. Overall a good start to the Southern
100 this year and with the lap record having already being broke where sure
to be seeing great action around the Billown based circuit this year.
