Supersport TT 2026: Dunlop Counters Harrison for Ninth Consecutive Win

• Michael Dunlop wins on the Ducati Panigale V2 with a 24.470-second margin
• Race officials shorten the race from four to three laps due to weather
• A 30-second penalty drops Mike Browne from the top five to tenth place

Following a race week marred by poor weather, the first Supersport race of the 2026 TT took place on the Snaefell Mountain Course. A delay of around two hours was necessary before the start, as numerous damp patches on the public road circuit needed to dry. In these conditions, a race unfolded that was defined by an early lead change, a consequential pit stop, and several penalties.

Who won the first Supersport race of the 2026 TT?

The first Supersport race of the 2026 TT was won by Michael Dunlop on the Ducati Panigale V2, ahead of Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman. For Dunlop, it was his 34th victory at the Tourist Trophy and his ninth consecutive win in the Supersport class.

However, Dean Harrison got the better start. The Honda Racing UK rider took the lead from the outset on his Honda CBR600RR and controlled the opening lap. Dunlop closed the gap sector by sector and took the lead for the first time at the end of the first lap. Through the mandatory pit stop and the second lap, he steadily extended his advantage and brought the win home on the final lap in controlled fashion. His fastest lap was in the region of 127 mph. With this victory, Dunlop recorded his 16th Supersport win and his 53rd podium at the TT. After the race, he said the motorcycle had worked well all week and he was glad to be back on the top step.

Why was the Supersport race shortened to three laps?

The race was shortened from four to three laps due to weather conditions, with the mandatory pit stop required after the first lap. The reason was the persistent damp conditions and the resulting delay to the schedule.

The information board at the start/finish line displayed a long list of damp sections before the start, particularly in shaded passages beneath trees. The riders had to largely assess their first lap on their own, as the course — unlike a circuit — is not ridden by all competitors simultaneously. Over the course of the race, many sections dried out. Not all starters reached the finish, with around a dozen machines retiring.

How did Peter Hickman reach the podium despite a pit stop problem?

Peter Hickman secured third place despite losing valuable time during his pit stop. On the Triumph Street Triple 765 of Swan Racing by PHR Performance, he only overtook Paul Jordan on the final lap.

The fuel cap on Hickman’s machine would not open initially. His mechanics eventually resorted to pliers to release the cap, causing the stop to take considerably longer than for his rivals. Nevertheless, Hickman recovered the deficit to Jordan over the remaining distance and moved into third at the approach to Glen Helen on the final lap. After the race, Hickman said these were the wettest conditions he had ever experienced on the TT course.

What were the remaining results?

Behind the podium, Paul Jordan on the Ducati Panigale V2 of Jackson Racing finished fourth, followed by Josh Brookes on the Suzuki GSX-R750. Jordan matched his best Supersport result.

After the race, Jordan spoke about being faster through the corners but unable to pass Mike Browne on the straights, unable even to use his slipstream. Further back, Dominic Herbertson on the Triumph of KTS Macadam rode from road position 13 up to sixth place, followed by Jamie Coward on the Honda CBR600RR of Rapid Honda with DriveLife. Shaun Anderson on the Suzuki of Stanford Racing by ARD finished eighth, which commentators suggested was his best Supersport placement. The top ten was completed by Ian Hutchinson on the Ducati and Mike Browne. Browne, who had started as number one on the road, was in contention for the podium for much of the race but received a 30-second penalty for speeding in pit lane and dropped to tenth. Calculations suggested fifth place would have been possible without the penalty. Conor Cummins also received a 30-second penalty for a speed infringement in pit lane. New Zealander Mitchell Rees finished 13th in his second TT year and his first Supersport race.

Mixed grid and celebrity guests at the Mountain Course

The starting grid reflected the impact of the new Supersport regulations, which permit larger displacement engines and different configurations alongside the traditional 600cc machines. As a result, the Triumph Street Triple 765, Suzuki GSX-R750, Yamaha R9 and R6, and Ducati Panigale V2 all competed against each other at the Mountain Course.

Several teams that had initially opted for the new Yamaha R9 switched back to the proven R6 for the race, including Mike Browne’s team. Davey Todd, who carries start number eight, was absent due to injury, leaving a gap in the field. Off the track, a high-profile visitor attracted attention: actor and producer Brad Pitt was watching the action, as the feature film “Isle of Man” is being shot during the 2026 TT. The film is directed by Reid Carolin and produced by Brad Pitt and Channing Tatum, among others, for Amazon MGM Studios. Within the 2026 TT race week, this was the first of two scheduled Supersport races.

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