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Lap records, lap records, lap records, was the term on countless TT fans lips as the blue-riband race entered the horizon, the Milwaukee Senior TT.
First won in 1911 by Oliver Godfrey, the Senior race year in year out thrills, amazes, surprises.
So, what would this afternoon’s six-lap encounter provide?
Conditions were ideal for racing as they had been throughout the TT 2023 festival.
First off as in the prior Supersport, Superbike, Superstock races was Adelaide’s David Johnson.
Lap 1:
Lap one Glen Helen, the top three was the anticipated top race challengers, Harrison, Hickman, Dunlop.
Harrison led Hickman by only 0.503 of a second with Dunlop a further 2.267 behind.
At Ballaugh Bridge, Hickman powered into the race lead, opening up a 3.477 seconds’ advantage.
First race retirement was Jamie Coward, third place finisher in Tuesday’s Super Twins opener.
Onto Ramsey Hairpin and Hickman’s early race push continued, extending the lead to 4.752 seconds. By the Bungalow, the race lead was 6.1 seconds.
First on the road, Harrison was first to complete lap one, lapping at 134.529 mph.
P1 holder though was Hickman, lapping at 135.349 (16:43.537 seconds), the fastest ever standing start TT lap speed.
6.12 seconds separated Hickman and Harrison with Dunlop almost four seconds in arrears to the 2019 Senior race winner.
Lap 2:
7.442 to the good at Glen Helen, Hickman set another sector record, Grandstand-Glen Helen of 4:05.763 seconds.
Hickman marginally increased the lead at Ballaugh Bridge to 7.654 seconds.
Harrison second was gradually breaking away from Hawk Racing’s Dunlop.
At lap two’s end, Monster Energy by FHO Racing’s Hickman, setting a new Senior race lap record of 135.507 mph, enjoyed a gap of 11.862 to DAO Racing’s Harrison.
Dunlop in third, was 7.358 further back with Conor Cummins, Josh Brookes, LAMI OMG Racing’s James Hillier finalising the first six.
Lap 3:
Post scheduled opening pit-stops, Harrison narrowed Hickman’s P1 grip at Glen Helen.
Eight seconds was all that now covered two of international road racing’s ‘Aliens’.
By Ramsey Hairpin, Hickman reaffirmed his authority, moving almost ten seconds clear.
As lap four emerged, Hickman’s lead was dimmed to sub ten seconds.
Second place holder Harrison, 17.633 in hand over Dunlop, was grittily hanging onto his esteemed fellow Mountain Course pilot.
Cummins held fourth, Brookes occupied fifth, John McGuinness MBE obtained sixth.
Lap 4:
Maintaining a metronomic, ultra consistent, relentless pace, outright lap record holder Hickman handsomely controlled the race lead on lap four.
Former Superbike lap record holder Harrison, wasn’t giving up though, not letting Hickman rest on his laurels.
12.38 seconds covered Hickman, Harrison at lap four’s conclusion.
Dunlop, Cummins, Brookes, McGuinness MBE remained respectively third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
Lap 5:
After the second pit-stops, Harrison got closer to Hickman at Glen Helen.
Shaving close to 3.5 seconds off Hickman’s advantage, could Harrison bring himself back into race winning contention?
Michael Rutter’s final race outing aboard RC213V-S Honda machinery, ended in retirement at Glen Vine.
Passing Dunlop on the road, Hickman took almost three seconds out of Harrison by Ballaugh Bridge.
The multiple BSB riders cup Champion, added a shade under 1.8 seconds to the race-lead at the Bungalow.
With just one lap of TT 2023 to go, the leader-board top eight was Hickman, Harrison +15.935, Dunlop, Cummins, Brookes, McGuinness MBE, Hillier, Johnson.
Lap 6:
Lap 6 opened with prospective race winner Hickman, going 18.398 seconds clear at Glen Helen.
Closing in on TT victory no.13, his fourth race win of TT 2023, iceman Hickman was in total control.
Rolling off the pace a touch, Hickman went onto stylishly scoop 2023 Milwaukee Senior TT success, his third blue riband class triumph.
Banking a new Senior race record, his final race winning margin stood at 19.989 seconds.
Third behind Harrison, runner-up for the second successive Senior TT, Ballymoney’s Dunlop in third, set on the
final lap, a brand-new official personal best lap speed of 135.259 mph.
Cummins placed fourth, Brookes, Hillier acquiring new PB lap speeds (132.529), (132.703) were fifth, sixth.
McGuinness MBE, Superstock Honda mounted Johnson, Todd still not 100 percent after recent sickness issues, new 130 mph club member Rob Hodson wrapped up the top ten finishers.
Others gaining huge personal best lap’s included Craig Neve (11th – 130.863), Michael Evans (19th – 126.595), Richard Wilson (23rd – 125.905) and now Germany’s quickest TT exponent David Datzer (25th – 126.858).
TT 2023 – Milwaukee Senior Race Result:
1st – Peter Hickman
2nd – Dean Harrison
3rd – Michael Dunlop
4th – Conor Cummins
5th – Josh Brookes
6th – James Hillier
7th – John McGuinness MBE
8th – David Johnson
9th – Davey Todd
10th – Rob Hodson
11th – Craig Neve
12th – Shaun Anderson
13th – Brian McCormack
14th – Jim Hind
15th – Phil Crowe
16th – Paul Jordan
17th – Stephen Smith
18th – Julian Trummer
19th – Michael Evans
20th – Ryan Cringle
21st – AJ Venter
22nd – Forest Dunn
23rd – Richard Wilson
24th – James Chawke
25th – David Datzer
26th – Michael Russell
27th – Amalric Blanc
28th – Rhys Hardisty
29th – Barry Furber
30th – Anthony Redmond
31st – Erno Kostamo
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Cummins held fourth, Brookes occupied fifth, John McGuinness MBE obtained sixth.
Lap 4:
Maintaining a metronomic, ultra consistent, relentless pace, outright lap record holder Hickman handsomely controlled the race lead on lap four.
Former Superbike lap record holder Harrison, wasn’t giving up though, not letting Hickman rest on his laurels.
12.38 seconds covered Hickman, Harrison at lap four’s conclusion.
Dunlop, Cummins, Brookes, McGuinness MBE remained respectively third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
Lap 5:
After the second pit-stops, Harrison got closer to Hickman at Glen Helen.
Shaving close to 3.5 seconds off Hickman’s advantage, could Harrison bring himself back into race winning contention?
Michael Rutter’s final race outing aboard RC213V-S Honda machinery, ended in retirement at Glen Vine.
Passing Dunlop on the road, Hickman took almost three seconds out of Harrison by Ballaugh Bridge.
The multiple BSB riders cup Champion, added a shade under 1.8 seconds to the race-lead at the Bungalow.
With just one lap of TT 2023 to go, the leader-board top eight was Hickman, Harrison +15.935, Dunlop, Cummins, Brookes, McGuinness MBE, Hillier, Johnson.
Lap 6:
Lap 6 opened with prospective race winner Hickman, going 18.398 seconds clear at Glen Helen.
Closing in on TT victory no.13, his fourth race win of TT 2023, iceman Hickman was in total control.
Rolling off the pace a touch, Hickman went onto stylishly scoop 2023 Milwaukee Senior TT success, his third blue riband class triumph.
Banking a new Senior race record, his final race winning margin stood at 19.989 seconds.
Third behind Harrison, runner-up for the second successive Senior TT, Ballymoney’s Dunlop in third, set on the
final lap, a brand-new official personal best lap speed of 135.259 mph.
Cummins placed fourth, Brookes, Hillier acquiring new PB lap speeds (132.529), (132.703) were fifth, sixth.
McGuinness MBE, Superstock Honda mounted Johnson, Todd still not 100 percent after recent sickness issues, new 130 mph club member Rob Hodson wrapped up the top ten finishers.
Others gaining huge personal best lap’s included Craig Neve (11th – 130.863), Michael Evans (19th – 126.595), Richard Wilson (23rd – 125.905) and now Germany’s quickest TT exponent David Datzer (25th – 126.858).
TT 2023 – Milwaukee Senior Race Result:
1st – Peter Hickman
2nd – Dean Harrison
3rd – Michael Dunlop
4th – Conor Cummins
5th – Josh Brookes
6th – James Hillier
7th – John McGuinness MBE
8th – David Johnson
9th – Davey Todd
10th – Rob Hodson
11th – Craig Neve
12th – Shaun Anderson
13th – Brian McCormack
14th – Jim Hind
15th – Phil Crowe
16th – Paul Jordan
17th – Stephen Smith
18th – Julian Trummer
19th – Michael Evans
20th – Ryan Cringle
21st – AJ Venter
22nd – Forest Dunn
23rd – Richard Wilson
24th – James Chawke
25th – David Datzer
26th – Michael Russell
27th – Amalric Blanc
28th – Rhys Hardisty
29th – Barry Furber
30th – Anthony Redmond
31st – Erno Kostamo
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou 
