By You can’t but not be enthralled when close fought, thrilling Supersport races take place on the well liked 4.25 miles long Billown course.
As at the TT Races, the quickest middleweight class competitor at the ‘Friendly Races’ the Southern 100 is Ballymoney roads legend Michael Dunlop.
It was in the S&S Motors 600cc race from 2017 when Dunlop piloting his TT winning, MD Racing Yamaha powered to a new record lap speed of 111.335 mph, which equates time wise to 2 minutes 17.496 seconds.
In the same race as Dunlop’s record lap speed, eventual race winner Silicone Engineering Racing’s Dean Harrison also nudged past the 111 mph lap mark, lapping at 111.276 mph.
Aside from 22 times TT winner’s combined Dunlop and Harrison, just four more racer’s have surpassed the 110 mph lap barrier on 600 machinery, they are as follows:
The much missed James Cowton (110.696), reigning TT Privateers Champion Jamie Coward (110.44), 19 times International Road Race winner Guy Martin (110.306) and McAdoo Kawasaki’s Adam McLean (110.181).
Overall during the past decade, no less than 38 riders have lapped at over the 105 mph lap mark, with the fastest overseas competitor being twice TT winner, Australian roads great Cameron Donald (109.113).
Words by Stevie Rial
