Hicky wins dramatic Superbike TT
Dunlop denied record after helmet drama
Peter Hickman took the honours in a drama packed RST Superbike TT, a race which saw four riders take their turn in the lead, and which saw Michael Dunlop denied the opportunity to take a record breaking 27th win after a fumbled pit stop.
Dunlop had been 25 seconds in the lead as they went to pit at the end of lap four, but a mistake changing the visor on his helmet meant he needed to pull over and fix it at the side of the road shortly after leaving the pits, dropping him back to fourth.
The second round of pitstops provided a mad minute in a race where Dunlop had been looking like cruising to victory. Davey Todd should have been able to take advantage of Dunlop’s problem, but his BMW was slow to fire up and he lost a chunk of time of his own. That gave the lead to Dean Harrison, with Peter Hickman a mere second behind.
It was Todd who had led the opening lap, posting a PB 134.417mph lap on his Milwaukee BMW M 1000 RR, but there was only five seconds between the top four, with Dunlop, Harrison and Hickman in hot pursuit.
Any thoughts of a six-lap battle looked to be dashed when Dunlop took the lead on lap two with a stunning second sector, while Hickman also upped his pace to momentarily overhaul Todd, who started suffering arm pump issues. Dunlop broke the superbike lap record, in spite of slowing down for the pits, and both he and Todd benefitted from slick pit stops to eke out a solid advantage over their rivals.
Dunlop got the hammer down to pull out a 25 second lead over Todd before the fateful second round of pitstops, which set up two of the tensest laps of TT racing ever.While Harrison, who was third away, led on the road, Hickman, starting 10th, overhauled him on the timing screens. Todd was tucked in behind Dunlop but was 20 seconds ahead on the timings, and the pair swapped places over the Mountain as they tried to hunt down the leaders.
In the end it was a bridge too far for Dunlop, but Todd was able to overtake Harrison to take second, his second runner-up finish in as many races at TT 2024, with Harrison completing the podium on his Honda Racing Fireblade CBR1000RR.
Hickman was honest about his race afterwards, admitting he ‘wasn’t fast enough’ but his 14th TT win sees him equal the great Mike Hailwood for victories around the Mountain course. He said:
"Over the first couple of laps in particular I didn’t seem to have the pace. The bike was moving around a lot but I don’t think there was an issue with the bike, I just don’t think I was fast enough. I was gifted it a little bit but you need luck at the TT. I’ve lost races through bad luck too.
It’s an endurance race and to finish first, first you have to finish. Big thanks to my FHO Racing team, the boys and girls have worked so hard, and to equal a rider like Mike Hailwood is really special.”
Todd was pragmatic with his second place, which came despite a few issues of his own. He added:
“I’m happy with second. That was our position today really, as Michael had the pace on us. We were pushing really hard early on and I got a bit of arm on lap two, which I’ve never had before. The bike didn’t start at the second pitstop, we don’t know why yet, but otherwise my Milwaukee BMW is working so well. I was able to follow Michael after we got going but he must have known his race was done.
I could see he was pushing really hard and making a few mistakes, so was happy to get past and push for the podium. I am really enjoying my riding and can’t wait for the next six races. That said, I’m really looking forward to a day off tomorrow…”
In a race of attrition, James Hillier finished fifth, with a resurgent John McGuinness sixth. Hickman’s FHO BMW team mate Josh Brookes had made a good start but retired when his chain came off on the first lap. Dunlop set a new class lap record of 135.970mph on the final lap and claimed a disappointed fourth on his Hawk Racing Honda.
TT 2024 now takes a day off, with the RL360 Superstock TT Race 1 and Metzeler Supertwin TT scheduled for Tuesday.