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Moved into today’s schedule, the second Monster Energy Supersport TT race (reduced to two laps), was further delayed (9:40 AM announcement) in the morning, by thirty minutes, to enable damp patches across the fabled, mythical Mountain Course to dry.
At 10:04 AM, organisers made the decision to delay competition proceedings for another thirty minutes, following a remote sprinkling of inclement weather.
Further delays followed, with racing pushed back to 12:00 PM then 12:15 PM then 12:30 PM, then 1:00 PM.
Lap One:
Finally, at 1 PM Jackson Racing’s Paul Jordan got the tap on the shoulder and propelled down Glencrutchery Road, Bray Hill.
First timing point Glen Helen, Michael Dunlop pocketed P1, 0.558 ahead of Powertoolmate Ducati’s Davey Todd, Bournemouth Kawasaki’s James Hillier was only 0.136 down on Superstock race winner Todd.
At Ballaugh Bridge, Dunlop moved almost one second to the good out front, below three seconds covered the top four.
Ramsey Hairpin, the margin separating Dunlop and Todd was just past 1.5 seconds. Harrison usurped Hillier for third.
Across the Bungalow, Cronk ny Mona, the top three remained close, close, close.
As lap one concluded, Dunlop (standing start lap speed – 127.389 mph) led new second place occupier Harrison 0.904 of a second.
Todd in third was 1.362 behind Harrison, Hillier dropped to sixth with Hickman, Jamie Coward up to fifth, sixth.
The first notable early retiree was BE/RK Racing’s Dominic Herbertson at Kerrowmoar. Newcomer Kevin Keyes retired at Parliament Square.
Lap Two:
First timing points on lap two, Glen Helen, Ballaugh Bridge, Dunlop pulled the pin but only slightly, opening a 3.254 seconds’ advantage.
At Ramsey, Dunlop added an extra 1.367 to his race lead, Jim Hind stopped at Ballacraine.
Over the Bungalow, looking smooth astride his own squads’ YZF-R6 Yamaha, ‘Maverick’ passing No.1 plate holder Jordan, appeared to be entering, don’t think just do mode.
Despite dropping a smidgen of time at Cronk ny Mona, Dunlop looked set for TT win number 28 and a sixth successive middleweight class triumph.
This prophecy proved correct as he took the chequered flag (last lap-lap speed 129.071 mph), finishing 3.889 in front of gallant runner-up, now twenty nine times TT podium finisher Harrison (last lap-lap speed 128.706 mph).
Todd took third, KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan’s Coward finished top Triumph runner in fourth, edging outright lap record holder Hickman.
Hillier as high as third on lap one, finished sixth with Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing’s Michael Browne seventh.
Jordan placed eighth with Smith Racing Triumph mounted Michael Evans, twice BSB Champion Josh Brookes ninth, tenth respectively.
Shaun Anderson (Butterfields of Skipton Suzuki) obtained a more than creditable eleventh place finish.
Senior Manx GP winner from 2023 Joe Yeardsley, was another banking a strong finish, finishing twelfth.
SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson, Milenco by Padgetts Ian Hutchinson, Craig Neve back in the saddle after a tip-off at Greeba during qualifying week completed the top 15.
Wrapping up the first twenty finishers were Stefano Bonetti, Joey Thompson, TH Racing’s AJ Venter, Barry Furber and Brian McCormack.
Finishers 21st-30th were Eddy Ferre (Optimark Road Racing), Julian Trummer (Jackson Racing), Pierre Yves Bian, Stephen Parsons, Tom Weeden, Jonathan Perry, Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil, Rhys Hardisty (Never Be Clever Racing), Jonathan Goetschy (Optimark Road Racing), Michael ‘Jack’ Russell.
Sixteen more riders completed the race, Sam West (31st), Timothee Monot (32nd), Paul Cassidy (33rd), Croatian TT debutant Loris Majcan (34th), Mark Parrett (35th), Mike Norbury (36th), Cowton Racing’s Gareth Arnold (37th), David Rigby (38th).
Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments James Chawke (39th), Jack Fowler (40th), Marc Colvin (41st), Jorge Halliday (42nd), Jack Petrie (43rd), Dan Cooper Motorsport supported David Brook (44th), Mark Goodings (45th), Craig Szczypek (46th).
Post race reaction:
Michael Dunlop:
“Had a small issue, something I will need to deal with when I get back to the workshop but it done it’s job, boys worked real hard, the issue was my own issue, something I’m working on myself.”
Davey Todd:
“Honestly over the moon with those conditions, didn’t really know what to expect was a bit nervous for the race, not having a warm-up lap and not riding in a couple of days.
Was a bit cautious on lap one and lap two because of the conditions, grip not really been there, not a lot of rubber down and a few damp patches out there, so was pretty cautious.
The bikes working really well, the Powertoolmate Ducati guys have done a fantastic job but over the moon to be standing on the podium again.”
“It’s been a work in progress, coming here with a new bike for the first time, having no data, having no previous data or anything to go off, no previous set-ups, the boys had to work hard.
They had a big job on, every time coming in improving the bike step by step, even with a difficult week weather wise, they’ve done a great job, built a bike at the end of the day that’s got two podiums on it’s first outing at the TT, so, can’t ask for much more.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
At Ballaugh Bridge, Dunlop moved almost one second to the good out front, below three seconds covered the top four.
Ramsey Hairpin, the margin separating Dunlop and Todd was just past 1.5 seconds. Harrison usurped Hillier for third.
Across the Bungalow, Cronk ny Mona, the top three remained close, close, close.
As lap one concluded, Dunlop (standing start lap speed – 127.389 mph) led new second place occupier Harrison 0.904 of a second.
Todd in third was 1.362 behind Harrison, Hillier dropped to sixth with Hickman, Jamie Coward up to fifth, sixth.
The first notable early retiree was BE/RK Racing’s Dominic Herbertson at Kerrowmoar. Newcomer Kevin Keyes retired at Parliament Square.
Lap Two:
First timing points on lap two, Glen Helen, Ballaugh Bridge, Dunlop pulled the pin but only slightly, opening a 3.254 seconds’ advantage.
At Ramsey, Dunlop added an extra 1.367 to his race lead, Jim Hind stopped at Ballacraine.
Over the Bungalow, looking smooth astride his own squads’ YZF-R6 Yamaha, ‘Maverick’ passing No.1 plate holder Jordan, appeared to be entering, don’t think just do mode.
Despite dropping a smidgen of time at Cronk ny Mona, Dunlop looked set for TT win number 28 and a sixth successive middleweight class triumph.
This prophecy proved correct as he took the chequered flag (last lap-lap speed 129.071 mph), finishing 3.889 in front of gallant runner-up, now twenty nine times TT podium finisher Harrison (last lap-lap speed 128.706 mph).
Todd took third, KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan’s Coward finished top Triumph runner in fourth, edging outright lap record holder Hickman.
Hillier as high as third on lap one, finished sixth with Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing’s Michael Browne seventh.
Jordan placed eighth with Smith Racing Triumph mounted Michael Evans, twice BSB Champion Josh Brookes ninth, tenth respectively.
Shaun Anderson (Butterfields of Skipton Suzuki) obtained a more than creditable eleventh place finish.
Senior Manx GP winner from 2023 Joe Yeardsley, was another banking a strong finish, finishing twelfth.
SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson, Milenco by Padgetts Ian Hutchinson, Craig Neve back in the saddle after a tip-off at Greeba during qualifying week completed the top 15.
Wrapping up the first twenty finishers were Stefano Bonetti, Joey Thompson, TH Racing’s AJ Venter, Barry Furber and Brian McCormack.
Finishers 21st-30th were Eddy Ferre (Optimark Road Racing), Julian Trummer (Jackson Racing), Pierre Yves Bian, Stephen Parsons, Tom Weeden, Jonathan Perry, Michal ‘Indi’ Dokoupil, Rhys Hardisty (Never Be Clever Racing), Jonathan Goetschy (Optimark Road Racing), Michael ‘Jack’ Russell.
Sixteen more riders completed the race, Sam West (31st), Timothee Monot (32nd), Paul Cassidy (33rd), Croatian TT debutant Loris Majcan (34th), Mark Parrett (35th), Mike Norbury (36th), Cowton Racing’s Gareth Arnold (37th), David Rigby (38th).
Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments James Chawke (39th), Jack Fowler (40th), Marc Colvin (41st), Jorge Halliday (42nd), Jack Petrie (43rd), Dan Cooper Motorsport supported David Brook (44th), Mark Goodings (45th), Craig Szczypek (46th).
Post race reaction:
Michael Dunlop:
“Had a small issue, something I will need to deal with when I get back to the workshop but it done it’s job, boys worked real hard, the issue was my own issue, something I’m working on myself.”
Davey Todd:
“Honestly over the moon with those conditions, didn’t really know what to expect was a bit nervous for the race, not having a warm-up lap and not riding in a couple of days.
Was a bit cautious on lap one and lap two because of the conditions, grip not really been there, not a lot of rubber down and a few damp patches out there, so was pretty cautious.
The bikes working really well, the Powertoolmate Ducati guys have done a fantastic job but over the moon to be standing on the podium again.”
“It’s been a work in progress, coming here with a new bike for the first time, having no data, having no previous data or anything to go off, no previous set-ups, the boys had to work hard.
They had a big job on, every time coming in improving the bike step by step, even with a difficult week weather wise, they’ve done a great job, built a bike at the end of the day that’s got two podiums on it’s first outing at the TT, so, can’t ask for much more.”
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
