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Arguably the toughest race to call during TT 2022, who would add Monster Energy Supersport Race 1 success to their racing CV’s?
Lots of racing insiders were tipping Michael Dunlop to make it twenty TT successes, confident Lee Johnston could clinch a second TT victory.
RST Superbike winner Peter Hickman, Milenco by Padgetts Davey Todd, Conor Cummins, Dean Harrison, James Hillier, Jamie Coward we’re also certain to be in the mix.
57 racers started the reduced in-distance three lap race, which got underway on schedule at 10:45 AM.
Lap 1:
As across all solo races this week excluding the Super Twins, John McGuinness MBE was first to surge down the world-famous Bray Hill.
Topping the time screens on the run to Glen Helen was practice week pace setter Michael Dunlop.
Just over six tenths of a second separated the early top three, Dunlop, Johnston, Harrison.
Dunlop’s race lead grew to 1.462 seconds at Ballaugh Bridge over new second place holder Harrison.
Johnston was now third, 765cc Triumph mounted Hickman occupied fourth as Hillier, Cummins completed the top six.
By Ramsey Hairpin Dunlop headed first on the road Harrison by 2.53 seconds.
Dunlop’s race lead at the Bungalow was reduced to just 1.8 seconds, Johnston remained third but now four seconds plus in arrears.
As racers reached Cronk Ny Mona, Dunlop led Harrison by a further reduced margin of 1.5 seconds, the mandatory scheduled pit-stop looked likely to be crucial for the outcome of this race.
Lap one’s conclusion saw Dunlop pull slightly more away from Harrison, holding a modest 3.2 second lead.
Johnston, Hickman were third, fourth, Hillier held fifth as Manxman Cummins finalised the first six.
Lap 2:
Post the all-important pit stop, Dunlop led Harrison by only 1.5 seconds, Hickman was now third, Hillier thanks to a superb pit-stop from the Rich Energy OMG Racing crew held fourth ahead of Johnston.
The Dunlop, Harrison battle intensified at Ballaugh Bridge, with less than a second covering the 22 times TT winners combined.
On the run to Ramsey Hairpin, Dunlop stretched the lead to 1.4 seconds, there was still absolutely nothing in it.
Aside from the front running battle, Hillier nudged past Hickman into third at Ramsey whilst North West 200 Supersport race 2 victor Johnston still holding fifth.
1.396 separated Dunlop, Harrison at the Bungalow, who would lead as we headed onto the final lap?
Dunlop just, just held onto P1, with only 1.1 seconds between him and a determined Harrison.
Hickman was fourth just a tenth of a second down on Ringwood’s Hillier.
Lap 3:
Only 0.14, yes only 0.14 was Dunlop’s lead at Glen Helen on lap three, whilst Hickman grabbed third back from Hillier.
At Ballaugh, Dunlop led Harrison by a narrowly increased margin, of 0.307 of a second.
Ballymoney’s Dunlop was on a charge and at Ramsey Hairpin, his race lead expanded to 2.6 seconds.
3.4 seconds was the race leader’s advantage at the Bungalow, still all to play for as we entered this thrilling, scintillating races’ final proceedings.
Beating his own existing Supersport lap record, lapping at 129.475 mph, Dunlop went onto clinch in style his 20th TT victory.
Just past 5.6 seconds was the final race winning margin for Dunlop, now the joint most successful Supersport TT racer in history.
Taking third behind gallant runner-up Harrison was K2 Trooper Beer supported Hickman.
Thanks to a 128 mph plus final-lap, Johnston took fourth with fifth going to Hillier.
Wrapping up the top 10 finishers were Jamie Coward, Cummins, Todd, Dominic Herbertson and Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing’s Ian Hutchinson.
Added strong results were acquired by the likes of Jim Hind (12th), BE Racing/RK Racing’s Michael Browne (15th), Michal Dokoupil (17th) and Pierre Yves Bian (24th).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Topping the time screens on the run to Glen Helen was practice week pace setter Michael Dunlop.
Just over six tenths of a second separated the early top three, Dunlop, Johnston, Harrison.
Dunlop’s race lead grew to 1.462 seconds at Ballaugh Bridge over new second place holder Harrison.
Johnston was now third, 765cc Triumph mounted Hickman occupied fourth as Hillier, Cummins completed the top six.
By Ramsey Hairpin Dunlop headed first on the road Harrison by 2.53 seconds.
Dunlop’s race lead at the Bungalow was reduced to just 1.8 seconds, Johnston remained third but now four seconds plus in arrears.
As racers reached Cronk Ny Mona, Dunlop led Harrison by a further reduced margin of 1.5 seconds, the mandatory scheduled pit-stop looked likely to be crucial for the outcome of this race.
Lap one’s conclusion saw Dunlop pull slightly more away from Harrison, holding a modest 3.2 second lead.
Johnston, Hickman were third, fourth, Hillier held fifth as Manxman Cummins finalised the first six.
Lap 2:
Post the all-important pit stop, Dunlop led Harrison by only 1.5 seconds, Hickman was now third, Hillier thanks to a superb pit-stop from the Rich Energy OMG Racing crew held fourth ahead of Johnston.
The Dunlop, Harrison battle intensified at Ballaugh Bridge, with less than a second covering the 22 times TT winners combined.
On the run to Ramsey Hairpin, Dunlop stretched the lead to 1.4 seconds, there was still absolutely nothing in it.
Aside from the front running battle, Hillier nudged past Hickman into third at Ramsey whilst North West 200 Supersport race 2 victor Johnston still holding fifth.
1.396 separated Dunlop, Harrison at the Bungalow, who would lead as we headed onto the final lap?
Dunlop just, just held onto P1, with only 1.1 seconds between him and a determined Harrison.
Hickman was fourth just a tenth of a second down on Ringwood’s Hillier.
Lap 3:
Only 0.14, yes only 0.14 was Dunlop’s lead at Glen Helen on lap three, whilst Hickman grabbed third back from Hillier.
At Ballaugh, Dunlop led Harrison by a narrowly increased margin, of 0.307 of a second.
Ballymoney’s Dunlop was on a charge and at Ramsey Hairpin, his race lead expanded to 2.6 seconds.
3.4 seconds was the race leader’s advantage at the Bungalow, still all to play for as we entered this thrilling, scintillating races’ final proceedings.
Beating his own existing Supersport lap record, lapping at 129.475 mph, Dunlop went onto clinch in style his 20th TT victory.
Just past 5.6 seconds was the final race winning margin for Dunlop, now the joint most successful Supersport TT racer in history.
Taking third behind gallant runner-up Harrison was K2 Trooper Beer supported Hickman.
Thanks to a 128 mph plus final-lap, Johnston took fourth with fifth going to Hillier.
Wrapping up the top 10 finishers were Jamie Coward, Cummins, Todd, Dominic Herbertson and Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing’s Ian Hutchinson.
Added strong results were acquired by the likes of Jim Hind (12th), BE Racing/RK Racing’s Michael Browne (15th), Michal Dokoupil (17th) and Pierre Yves Bian (24th).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou 
