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Michael Dunlop became a multiple TT winner in Monday’s closing Superstock TT, delayed till evening.
Padgetts Honda rider John McGuinness led the way at Glen Helen on the opening lap, with the top four separated by less than a second as Guy Martin, William and Michael Dunlop filled the positions.
Dunlop (Street Sweep Kawasaki) hit his stride on the run to Ballaugh to snatch the lead as McGuinness fell being Martin to third, while brother William encountered traffic problems from his start number of 16 on his Wilson Craig Honda, and the afternoon’s victor Bruce Anstey (Padgetts) also hit problems, pulling into the pits.
TAS Suzuki man Martin slashed Dunlop’s lead to two hundredths of a second at Cronk-ny-mona and took the lead by 1.69 seconds at the end of the lap. Could this be Martin’s first ever TT win at long last?
Well if it was, Dunlop wasn’t going to let it happen easily, taking five seconds out on the run from the Grandstand to Glen Helen, a sensational ride to launch back into the led by 3 ½ seconds with McGuinness right in amongst it just 2 ½ behind Martin.
Dunlop launched down the Sulby straight at 186.40mph extending the lead to 9.6 seconds at Ramsey, and then 13 seconds ahead of the all important pit stops, an incredible 14 seconds faster than all his main rivals on the lap, the fastest of the race at 129.709 average, even slowing down for the fuel stop. Gary Johnson meanwhile retired at Creg-na-baa.
McGuinness’s bike was reluctant to fire from the halt, dropping vital seconds, while Guy Martin had the quickest stop of 52.173 seconds, a second faster than Dunlop.
It mattered little as Dunlop got back on the pace on lap three, as Martin caught KBMG Honda’s Keith Amor on the road, allowing McGuinness to re-take second place at Ramsey on lap three.
Amor held fourth ahead of William Dunlop as he and Martin continued to dice on the roads out onto the final lap, which Dunlop started with a 17.69 second advantage.
Dunlop wasn’t backing off, on lap record schedule right up to the Bunglaow, easing off to secure a second TT title.
McGuinness and Guy Martin filled out the podium as positions remained unchanged with Keith Amor fourth then William Dunlop and Cameron Donald filling out the top six.
Dan Kneen headed the local challenge with an excellent seventh place, while Connor Cummins finished his first race on his return to the TT since last years accident in 12th.
Different winners in every race so far, and after a day of sadness and glory on the Mountain course, TT 2011 continues on Wednesday with the second supersport and sidecar events.
