Isle of Man TT 2018 results: Michael Dunlop bags second win of the week with Supersport race one victory
Dunlop shattered the Supersport lap record with a speed of 129.197mph and remains in the hunt for an unprecedented six victories in a single week
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Your support makes all the difference.Michael Dunlop doubled up with victory in the first Monster Supersport race at this year’s Isle of Man TT, breaking the lap record in the process as he dominated from start to finish to claim his 17th victory and add to Saturday’s Superbike triumph.
The Northern Irishman set off on the Michael Dunlop Racing Honda 10 seconds behind his main competitor in Dean Harrison, who agonisingly missed out on taking the Superbike spoils after retiring from the lead when his Silicone Engineering Kawasaki’s clutch gave up, but after briefly falling behind on the run to Glen Helen Dunlop hit the front by the time they reached the Ramsey hairpin.
Much like Saturday, the pair quickly shot to the top of the timesheet over the course of the opening lap, with James Hillier, Peter Hickman and Conor Cummins locked in a battle for third. With conditions favouring the quick pace that Dunlop set out in order to break up the pack, the opening lap of 128.269mph was just four tenths off the lap record speed from a standing start, which gave him a slender 1.740s lead over Harrison.
But Dunlop pulled the pin on the second lap, and by the time they reached the pits for the one and only stop at the end of the second circuit, he became the first man to lap the TT course at an average speed of more than 129mph on a 600cc bike, giving him a 6.461s lead over Harrison.
Despite being the only front-runner to change his rear tyre, Dunlop continued to eke out his advantage and by the time he reached Glen Helen on lap three, he was on the rear tyre of Harrison – which came as a handy sign that he was around nine seconds ahead of the Yorkshireman given his transponder had given up on displaying his timing.
That enabled Dunlop to stick onto the back of the Kawasaki and follow Harrison home to claim his 17th victory on the Snaefell Mountain Course, which keeps him in contention to become the first man to win six races in a single week. Harrison sportingly allowed Dunlop past on the run to the Grandstand to allow him to take the spoils on the line, sealing a victory of 10.278 seconds, but the second-place finish will be a boost for Harrison after Saturday’s disappointment.
Worryingly for Dunlop’s rivals, the Ballymoney rider immediately jumped off his Honda and insisted that he is capable of going even faster in Wednesday’s second Supersport race, with the next big milestone well in his sights.
"The bike went perfect and the pit stop was perfect but we can definitely make it better for Wednesday's race," said Dunlop.
"I haven't had a lot of time on the bike but my boys have done a fantastic job and, with the right conditions, I think a 130mph lap could be possible on Wednesday.
"It's fantastic - I felt good out there and I'm starting to ride a bit harder now."
A thrilling battle between Hillier and Hickman developed for third that went to the very end, but after being held for what must have felt like an eternity, Hillier was sent on his way as Hickman took third, and a stonking final lap on his Smiths Racing ‘Trooper’ meant that he finished just 0.258s off Harrison, with Hillier 1.806s behind.
Results
1. Michael Dunlop 1:11:51.072
2. Dean Harrison +10.278s
3. Peter Hickman +10.536s
4. James Hillier +12.342s
5. Conor Cummins +53.284s
6. Josh Brookes +1:06.285 mins
7. Gary Johnson +1:15.080s mins
8. Lee Johnston +1:21.118 mins
9. James Cowton +1:54.073 mins
10. Ivan Lintin +2:03.880
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