By Following a 50 minute plus delay, due to an incident during Sidecar qualifying, racing got underway at the ‘Friendly Races’ but not with the scheduled opening Super Twins race.
Instead, organisers moved forward the first of three planned 1000cc races, the Peel Holdings Senior race.
At 8:39 PM racing commenced and No.1 plate holder Dean Harrison, made a powerful start, surging into the race lead, ahead of Nathan Harrison and Davey Todd.
Harrison (Dean) headed Todd into Cross Four Ways with Senior Manx GP winner Harrison (Nathan) now third in front of Michael Dunlop.
As lap one concluded, Harrison led Todd by 0.957 of a second. IOM Steam Packet Company backed Harrison (Nathan) held third, Dunlop was fourth with fifth, sixth held respectively by Jamie Coward and Michael Sweeney.
Harrison (Dean), 2019 IRRC Superbike Champion Todd continued to set the pace during lap two.
Just 0.790 separated Harrison and Todd, with both lapping over 114.5 mph, as lap three beckoned.
Dunlop moved into third as Harrison, Coward, Sweeney finalised the top six.
There was still nothing in it across lap three between DAO Racing’s Harrison and Milenco by Padgetts Todd.
North West 200 Supersport lap-record holder Todd, lap on lap gelling more and more with Billown, went onto set the fastest lap of the race, lapping at 115.165 mph, 2 minutes 12.853 seconds.
This enabled him to creep further up on Harrison (Dean), moving only 0.58 in arrears.
Dunlop, Harrison (Nathan), Coward, Sweeney remained respectively third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
Illustrating why many predicted great things from him this week, Todd hit the front on lap four, overhauling Harrison, who would soon encounter machine problems.
By the completion of lap five, Todd held a huge 12.517 seconds advantage over new second place holder Dunlop, who was elevated into second with Harrison forced to retire.
Remaining laps saw National Superstock 1000 front-runner Todd maintain a consistent tempo, ultimately taking his first Southern 100 victory in great style, winning by almost twenty seconds!
Recent Walderstown hat-trick hero Dunlop took second whilst a tight, keenly contested battle for third was won by twice Manx GP winner Harrison (Nathan), with Super Twins pole sitter Coward having to settle for fourth.
Irish Road Race Superbike Championship leader Sweeney occupied fifth as Ryan Kneen, Rob Hodson, Paul Jordan, Richard Charlton, Skerries Senior Support winner Marcus Simpson rounded out the top ten finishers.
Southern 100 – Peel Holdings Senior Race Result:
1st – Davey Todd
2nd – Michael Dunlop
3rd – Nathan Harrison
4th – Jamie Coward
5th – Michael Sweeney
6th – Ryan Kneen
7th – Rob Hodson
8th – Paul Jordan
9th – Richard Charlton
10th – Marcus Simpson
11th – Anthony Redmond
12th – Mark Parrett
13th – Jamie Williams
14th – Paul Cassidy
15th – Adrian Kershaw
16th – Forest Dunn
17th – Michael Russell
18th – Stephen McKnight
19th – David Brook
20th – Daniel Forbes
21st – Don Gilbert
22nd – Dennis Booth
23rd – Zach Oultram
24th – Paul Gartland
25th – Alan Connor
26th – Gary Ford
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
