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This years senior race at the Southern 100 began in pretty much perfect conditions all around the Billown road race circuit. It was Guy Martin who once again made a fantastic start on the Tyco Suzuki by TAS superbike to lead Michael Dunlop by around over a second as lap 1 of the race came to a close. Dean Harrison and Ian Lougher where battling closely over third place whilst Jamie Hamilton and Dan Kneen where battling each other for fifth position.
Lap 2 began with Martin still leading Dunlop but the gap was coming down whilst Harrison now in third place was also reeling the pair of them down for the race lead. Ian Lougher, Jamie Hamilton and Dan Kneen where all close together as the battle was in full commence between them over fourth place.
As lap 2 came to a close Guy Martin lead Michael Dunlop by half a second with Dean Harrison not far behind in third place. Jamie Hamilton held fourth place in front of Dan Kneen and Ian Lougher who completed the top six. Guy Martin continued to lead on lap 3 but the gap at the front was coming further and further down as Michael Dunlop was in full pursuit looking for his second race win at this years Southern 100.
Dean Harrison maintained third place on the RC Express racing Kawasaki by MSS performance whilst Ian Lougher was now back into fourth place on the WA Corless joinery/Jackson racing CBR 1000 Honda. Jamie Hamilton and Dan Kneen where now both back in around 10th and 11th places as Russ Mountford and James Coward both moved into the top 6 in the race.
Lap 3 at the start line saw Guy Martin still lead Michael Dunlop but now by only a tenth of a second with Dean Harrison only 0.8 of a second down in third place. Lap 4 began with positions at the front not changing apart from Michael Dunlop briefly taking the lead from Guy Martin before Guy moved back in front mid way through lap 4.
Jamie Hamilton and Dan Kneen where both moving their way up in the race with Jamie and Dan now into ninth and tenth positions. Ian Lougher remained in fourth place as lap 4 came to a close with Martin still leading Dunlop by a similar margin as on lap 3 of a tenth of a second.
Lap 5 once again saw positions at the front not change but Martin, Dunlop and Harrison where all closely matched and what was a highly exciting fifth lap of this years senior race at the Southern 100. When the leaders crossed the line Guy Martin increased his lead at the front to now 0.2 of a second from Michael Dunlop whilst Dean Harrison was now around only 0.6 of a second from taking the lead of the race.
By Stadium Corner on lap 6 Guy Martin still lead Michael Dunlop but Michael was in determined mood and appeared ready to move in front of Guy for the lead of the race. Plus on lap 6 Dean Harrison now in third place broke the lap record with a lap speed of 113.461 mph. A fabulous lap from Dean on the RC Express racing Kawasaki by MSS Performance superbike.
So lap 7 beckoned and Michael Dunlop hit the front for the first time on the Honda TT legends racing superbike and by the end of the lap Michael lead Guy Martin and Dean Harrison by over a second as we entered the final lap of the race.
Dunlop’s lead out front got bigger as the final lap of the race went on whilst Martin and Harrison where battling over second place, Ian Lougher was still in fourth place a long way in front of now fifth placed Jamie Hamilton on the KMR Kawasaki powered by Vauxhall superstock bike.
Michael Dunlop took the chequered flag on lap 8 of the race to record win number two at this years Southern 100. Michael set a new race record in taking race victory by 2 seconds over Guy Martin in second place whilst Dean Harrison produced another strong performance to finish in third place.
Ian Lougher, Jamie Hamilton, Russ Mountford, James Coward, Dan Kneen, Ty Jones and circuit newcomer Andy Soar completed the top 10.
