Michael Dunlop won the first Sportbike race in the history of the Tourist Trophy, breaking the lap record twice in the process. Behind the Northern Irishman, the battle for second place between Mike Browne and Paul Jordan was only decided on the finish line.
- Michael Dunlop wins with a 28.775-second margin and a new lap record of 124.530 mph
- Mike Browne edges Paul Jordan for second place by just 0.663 seconds
- 36th TT victory for Dunlop and already his second win of the day
The Carole Nash Sportbike TT ushered in a new era on the Mountain Course on Friday afternoon. The TT’s smallest solo class replaces the former Supertwin category, with new Sportbike machines and existing Supertwins racing together in the inaugural event. The race started with a delay at 4:00 PM and was run over two laps without a pit stop. This format meant that every second counted from the very start.
How Did the First Sportbike TT in History Unfold?
Michael Dunlop dominated the race from the very first sector time, winning on the Paton by MD Racing with a 28.775-second advantage over Mike Browne and Paul Jordan. At Glen Helen on the first lap, the Northern Irishman already led Browne by 3.68 seconds, at Ballaugh Bridge it was 7.97 seconds, and by Ramsey the gap had grown to 11.3 seconds.
Dunlop shattered the existing benchmarks: according to the official race report, he covered the sector from Glen Helen to Ballaugh Bridge almost three seconds faster than any rider before, then posted the next sector best time on the way to Ramsey, a further two seconds under his own previous best. After the first 24 miles, he was already six seconds ahead of the pace of his own lap record. His standing-start opening lap of 123.637 mph (approximately 199.0 km/h) set a new class record, faster than his own Supertwin best of 123.056 mph from the previous year, and gave him a 17.5-second lead. Because the two-lap format required no pit stop, the second lap followed without interruption. There, Dunlop posted yet another sector best time from the Grandstand to Glen Helen, extending his lead by a further five seconds, before setting the lap record for a second time with a closing lap of 124.530 mph (approximately 200.4 km/h).
Behind him, the field sorted itself early: Joe Yeardsley and Jamie Coward completed the top six at Glen Helen, while Michael Sweeney started strongly in seventh. Michal Dokoupil worked his way from tenth to seventh by Ballaugh on the first lap.
Why Was Second Place Only Decided on the Finish Line?
Mike Browne and Paul Jordan were separated by just 0.663 seconds at the finish, after the pair had swapped positions throughout the entire race. At Glen Helen on the first lap, Jordan on the Jackson Racing Aprilia RS660 was still 1.3 seconds behind Browne, and by the Bungalow he had closed to within 1.2 seconds. Crossing the finish line, Jordan had the edge: his 121.695 mph stood against Browne’s 121.682 mph, a lead of just 0.122 seconds. At Glen Helen on the second lap, the gap shrank to 0.2 seconds before Browne turned the tables: at Ballaugh Bridge the Irishman was 1.1 seconds ahead again and added another eight tenths by Ramsey.
In the finish, both posted personal bests: Browne recorded 123.273 mph (approximately 198.4 km/h), Jordan 123.185 mph (approximately 198.2 km/h). Both thus broke the 123 mph barrier in this class for the first time and remained under the old Supertwin lap record, which almost went unnoticed in the shadow of Dunlop’s performance. Browne reported after the race that his pit board kept him informed of the narrow gap throughout and that the fight for second remained relentless to the very end. His Paton from the Melbray/Laycock team ran in a special tribute livery in historic colours, which he said meant a great deal to the team, making the podium in those colours particularly special. Jordan, meanwhile, said he had left nothing on the track and was very satisfied with third place. For both, it was their third TT podium — in Jordan’s case after third places in 2022 and 2025.
What Did Michael Dunlop Say After His 36th TT Victory?
Dunlop explained after the race that the Paton worked flawlessly and that he did not even feel at the limit on the final lap. He spoke of having reserves left and was himself surprised by how fast the closing lap turned out to be. His thanks went to the Paton team, specifically his mechanics Andrea and Lorenzo as well as Stefano, who manages the budget of the small Italian manufacturer.
For Dunlop, it was his second win of the day: just hours earlier, he had won the second Supersport race, claiming his 35th TT victory. With the Sportbike class win, the record holder now stands at 36 victories. He also hinted that his team had made a significant change to the motorcycle for the final Superbike race.
Hickman, Coward and Yeardsley: The Chasers Behind the Podium
Peter Hickman brought the Swan Racing Yamaha home in fourth despite a curious problem. On the first lap, the seal on his fuel cap apparently came loose, spraying him with petrol under every braking manoeuvre. He could already be seen looking down at his machine repeatedly during the race, losing time in the process: his opening lap of 119.926 mph left him 16.3 seconds behind Browne, just 4.3 seconds ahead of Coward. “I stink of fuel right now,” he said after the race. Hickman explained that he first made sure the tank was not damaged and rode deliberately gently until the fuel level dropped on the second lap. His closing lap of 121.952 mph (approximately 196.3 km/h) was nevertheless a personal best in this class, though he said even without the problem the top three would have been out of reach.
Jamie Coward finished fifth on the Milenco by Padgett’s Paton with a closing lap of 120.902 mph and was satisfied with his return to the front group after a year away from the TT. He spoke openly about initial self-doubt after the break and said that confidence was growing with every outing. Behind him, local rider Joe Yeardsley secured his best TT result to date with sixth place and 119.587 mph on the Flitwick Yamaha. Yeardsley said he had worked on his team all winter until they finally built him a bike, and that for him it was all about improving step by step.
Who Finished in the Top Ten at the 2026 Sportbike TT?
Michael Dunlop took the win ahead of Mike Browne, Paul Jordan, Peter Hickman, Jamie Coward and Joe Yeardsley, with Dominic Herbertson, Barry Furber, Michal Dokoupil and Michael Sweeney completing the top ten. Furber on the DC Motorcycles Yamaha only moved up to eighth on the second lap when he overtook Dokoupil. Herbertson brought the KTS Macadam Triumph home in seventh as the best machine under the new Sportbike regulations and spoke of effectively bringing a knife to a gunfight against the established Supertwins, which made the Triumph’s strength through the corners all the more apparent.
Just outside the top ten was South African AJ Venter on the TH Racing Kawasaki in eleventh. Shaun Anderson finished 18th on the CFMoto. Newcomer Rhys Stephenson completed his first TT race on the Rocket Racing Triumph in 24th, improving to 114.073 mph (approximately 183.6 km/h) on his final lap. Mark Parrett reached a special milestone: finishing 35th, he became only the sixth rider in history to complete 100 TT starts, after David Madsen-Mygdal, Ian Lougher, Jim Hodson, John McGuinness and Joey Dunlop. Less fortunate was Michael Evans, who crashed at Braddan Dip on the first lap. According to initial official information, the rider was conscious and was taken to Noble’s Hospital for further examination.
What Comes Next at the 2026 TT?
Later the same day, the Senior TT — the highlight of race week — was on the programme, giving Dunlop the chance to take three wins in a single day. Three solo races on one race day last happened in 2019, with weather-related postponements during this race week necessitating the packed schedule. The forecast for Saturday was uncertain.
The Sportbike debut takes its place in a 2026 TT marked by rain interruptions, during which Dunlop had already dominated the Supersport races. For the future of the class, a further change is on the horizon: eventually the entire field is expected to race on Sportbike machines, meaning the current Supertwins like the Paton would disappear from the class. Dunlop’s record ride may thus also have been the farewell of the Supertwin generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who won the 2026 Sportbike TT?
Michael Dunlop won the first Carole Nash Sportbike TT on 5 June 2026. Riding the Paton by MD Racing, he won by 28.775 seconds ahead of Mike Browne and Paul Jordan, claiming his 36th TT victory.
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How fast was Michael Dunlop’s record lap?
Dunlop’s new lap record stands at 124.530 mph, equivalent to approximately 200.4 km/h. His standing-start opening lap of 123.637 mph was already faster than the old Supertwin record of 123.056 mph from 2025.
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How close was the battle for second place?
Mike Browne beat Paul Jordan by 0.663 seconds at the finish. After the first lap, the pair had been separated by just 0.122 seconds, and both broke the 123 mph barrier in this class for the first time on the final lap.
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What is the Sportbike class at the TT?
The Sportbike TT is the new smallest solo class at the Tourist Trophy, replacing the former Supertwin category. At its 2026 debut, new Sportbike machines and existing Supertwins raced together, with the event run over two laps without a pit stop.
