Seventh heaven for magic Michael

Michael Dunlop produced a sensational 130.313mph final lap in the first Monster Energy Supersport TT to overhaul Dean Harrison, taking a career 30^th career win and giving Ducati its first TT win in 30 years.

Harrison led the opening two laps on his Honda Racing CBR600RR as Dunlop felt his way around the 37.73 mile Mountain course in his first TT outing on the V-twin Ducati Panigale.

Harrison held a lead of over seven seconds as the riders entered the pits for their compulsory stop at the end of the opening lap. Dunlop, short of running time after a weather affected practice week, took a second out of his rival during the stop, despite making an adjustment to the front suspension of his machine while refuelling.

From there, Dunlop was able to get into the groove and overhauled Harrison on the final lap to extend his winning streak to seven straight wins in the class. It also marked the first time Ducati had won on the island since Robert Holden was victorious in the 1995 Singles TT on a Ducati Supermono and means the TT’s G.O.A.T has now won with a staggering seven manufacturers.

Speaking after the race, Dunlop said: “It was tough at the start. We’ve not had many laps (during practice) and we’re with a new manufacturer. Ducati wanted someone to get them back to winning ways, it’s 30 years since they last won and it’s my 30^th victory, so that’s pretty cool.

(Making the change) shows how far behind we were with a lack of track time on our new machinery. You never want to be making changes in the pits, normally everyone’s got bikes they’ve been riding for years, but fair play to the boys. It was a brainwave from one of the technicians. We knew we could make changes if need be and so that’s what we did.”

Harrison added: “I’m over the moon with that as the Ducati is so fast through the speed traps. I knew I’d have to go hard from the start as he’d come on strong at the end, so that’s what I did. There’s no more to come from our bike. Those new generation bikes are 6mph faster than us and we won’t be able to find anything else for Wednesday’s race, just give it more of the same.”

Third went to the popular veteran James Hillier on a Kawasaki ZX-6R. The former Lightweight TT winner almost missed out on TT 2025 after his original Superbike team pulled out. He said: “It’s been stressful and frustrating to get here but that makes it all worthwhile. There are so many people behind the scenes who have helped us and it’s nice to be able to pay them back. I will sleep well tonight and see what the rest of the week brings.”

Davey Todd, winner of the earlier Superbike TT, was fourth, ahead of former British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes, both on Hondas.

It was a case of ‘multi-class Monday’ with Superbike, Supersport and Sidecar TTs all taking place after a weather affected practice week. Earlier in the day the Crowe brothers Ryan and Callum, totally dominated proceedings, taking the win and a new lap record in the two lap outing.