Delayed start and shortened race
Due to wet roads in the morning, the race was delayed by several hours and finally only started at 19:45 local time. For safety reasons, the race distance was reduced from three to two laps.
Paul Jordan on his Aprilia from the Jackson Racing Team opened the race with start number 1, but it was Dunlop on the MD Racing Paton who took the lead at Glen Helen. His lead over local hero Michael Evans (Dafabet Racing Kawasaki) was 2.2 seconds at this point, while Mike Browne (KMR/Jack Reid Cars Kawasaki) was close behind in third place. For Browne, however, the race ended early – he had to retire at Kirk Michael at Douglas Road Corner.
Dominant first lap
Dunlop had already extended his lead to 5.9 seconds at Ballaugh Bridge. In Ramsey, the lead grew further to 9.3 seconds – Dunlop had now also overtaken Evans on the track. After the first climb over the Snaefell Mountain Course, his lead was 10.7 seconds. Dunlop completed his first lap at an average speed of 122.006 mph (196.39 km/h), while Evans followed at 120.837 mph (194.47 km/h). Davey Todd (Milenco by Padgett’s Paton) was in third place at this point with 119.836 mph (192.85 km/h), but was only 1.4 seconds ahead of Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Paton).
Decision on the second lap
Dunlop continued to pull away on the second lap. At Glen Helen he was already 13.6 seconds ahead of Evans. In the meantime, Hodson had passed Todd and secured third place. The gap between the two was just 0.7 seconds – an extremely close duel after almost 80 kilometers of racing. In Ballaugh, Hodson was ultimately 3.2 seconds ahead of Todd, who was increasingly losing ground.
Dunlop left no doubt at the front. At Ramsey, his lead was 17.9 seconds, and on the second and final lap he set the fastest lap of the race at 122.610 mph (197.28 km/h). After two laps and a 22.6-second lead, the Northern Irishman confidently took the win.
First TT podium for Evans and Hodson
Michael Evans, who was competing on his 32nd birthday, put in a strong performance and finished second with an average speed of 121.306 mph (195.24 km/h) – his first TT podium. Rob Hodson also reached the Tourist Trophy podium for the first time with 121.020 mph (194.79 km/h). In the end, only 1.7 seconds separated him from Paul Jordan (121.032 mph), who narrowly missed out on third place.
Other placings
Davey Todd dropped back to fifth place with 120.224 mph (193.44 km/h), ahead of Dominic Herbertson (120.408 mph / 193.74 km/h). The top ten was completed by Adam McLean, Stefano Bonetti, Barry Furber and veteran Michael Rutter.
A historic evening for the TT record holder
With his 31st victory and 48th podium finish, Michael Dunlop underlines his legendary status in road racing. His impressive record shows that he is not only one of the greats of the Tourist Trophy with great talent, but also with experience, endurance and tactical flair.
