09
June
2017
|
20:35 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Michael Dunlop storms to Senior TT victory on Dunlops

  • Dunlop and Hickman take Dunlop 1-2 in Pokerstars Senior TT
  • Anstey takes dominant SES TT Zero win
  • Martin and Mathison complete clean sweep of SES TT Zero podium
  • Dunlop riders claim 12 podium caps across all solo classes

Michael Dunlop stormed to a sensational Pokerstars Senior TT victory aboard the Bennetts Suzuki on Dunlop tyres at the Isle of Man TT today. The Northern Ireland racer, winner of Monday’s Supersport race, and absolute lap record holder notched up his 15th TT victory in the shortened four lap race.

The race originally scheduled for six laps was shortened to four after Ian Hutchinson fell from his Tyco BMW on lap two forcing a red flag stoppage. At the restart, Dunlop took an immediate lead and was never headed to give the brand new bike equipped with Dunlop’s KR106/KR108s its first win.

Limited practice due to adverse weather also meant limited running on the 37.73 TT Mountain Course, meaning his outright record stands for another year. Dunlop came closest to matching his 2016 lap record, his time of 17m02.009 averaging 132.903 mph.

Joining Michael on the podium was Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman, taking Dunlop’s fourth 1-2 of the week. Peter came into race week looking for his first TT podium, but leaves the Island with five, across Superbike, Supersport, Superstock, Lightweight and Senior TT. In only his fourth year, the fastest newcomer lifted the prestigious Joey Dunlop Trophy for the most podiums in one year.

Norton Racing duo Josh Brookes and David Johnson took sixth and seventh, with Padgetts Racing’s Conor Cummins eighth, and William Dunlop on the Halsall Kawasaki completing a top ten finish. Padgetts Racing’s Bruce Anstey retired from the race on lap two with a blown engine while lying fourth, Honda Racing’s Guy Martin elected not to take part.

Dunlop takes clean sweep in SES TT Zero

Dunlop riders also filled the top three places in SES TT Zero, for electric bikes. Anstey taking back-to-back wins for Team Mugen, led home Mugen team-mate Guy Martin.

Anstey’s victory was the fourth successive TT Zero win for Dunlop-shod riders; in 2014 and 2015 John McGuinness claimed victory among his staggering 23 TT wins, before Kiwi Anstey picked up the mantle for the past two years. His 2017 win takes his TT total to 12. Completing the podium lock-out was Daley Mathison, a podium finisher last year, who took his Nottingham University machine to third place in the one lap race.

“To come away from the Isle of Man TT with victory in the four biggest solo races and 12 podiums finishes, including with riders who switched to Dunlop this season, is testament to the trust the world’s top racers have in our brand across both proven and new products. The iconic TT Mountain Course tests riders, machines and tyres and we’re incredibly proud to have been chosen by winners of the Superbike, Superstock, Supersport and Senior TT. The Isle of Man TT is in Dunlop’s DNA and we will continue to battle for future wins.” said Xavier Fraipont, Managing Director, Dunlop Motorcycle and Motorsport EMEA.