Photos: Tyco Suzuki
The racing has started at the Isle of Man despite consistently adverse weather cancelling and postponing many scheduled practice sessions and races. The first race did get off on the weekend, with the Dainese Superbike TT completing with – as rather expected – Michael Dunlop on his Hawk Racing BMW S1000RR taking the top spot.
He shared the podium with Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki) and local hero Connor Cummins on a factory Honda. He was 20 seconds ahead of Martin, who was followed by Cummins two seconds farther back.
The Morecambe Missile – John McGuiness, a 20-time TT winner – managed an impressive seventh despite riding with a broken scaphoid bone in his right wrist.
Dunlop said, “The BMW is only just showing its potential, there’s a lot more to come from that bike. It’s been 75 years for BMW Motorrad since they won the TT in 1939 – so today’s win is a nice present to send back to their museum.
“The BMW Hawk Racing team worked really well, and we showed everyone that you can complete two laps at full race pace on that BMW S1000RR. For a bike to last around the TT, especially the way I bust ’em, is just fantastic!”
Martin, who now has 14 TT podiums but no victories, said, “That was a good effort and I really enjoyed it but I suppose it’s another second place. The bike never missed a beat and the boys did a mega job today, but I have to take my hat off to Michael [Dunlop] as he’s riding well.”
McGuinness said it felt ‘strange’ to finish outside the top three “It does feel strange not to be in the winners’ enclosure, but I knew going in to the race that I might struggle.”
“Three or four weeks ago I thought I wouldn’t even be able to compete, so to finish six laps and place in the top 10 I don’t feel like I’ve disgraced myself.”
Fourth-placed Kiwi and TT veteran Bruce Anstey finished fourth, but set a new ultimate lap record, 132.298 mph
Only one race got off on Monday out of the two scheduled, as weather closed in. The Supersport (600) win went to Gary Johnson on a Triumph entered by Smiths Triumph. “It’s a credit to the team,” said the Johnson after his second TT victory. “This is probably better than the first one and it’s great for the Smiths boys. We’ve had to work so hard on the bike and we’ve worked a lot with Metzeler, who’ve given us a really good tyre. We had a race-winning combination and it’s great for Smiths because they are a small, family-run team who have won British championships and now they’ve won a TT,” he added.
The Superstock (big bikes one technical step down from Superbike) is now scheduled for today, Tuesday June 3.
Wednesday, weather permitting, will see the TT Zero electric race, the second Supersport race, and a sidecar race. Friday will see the final races with the Lightweight TT and the Senior race on tap.
