- 1 day ago
Coverage of the 1st Supersport race from the 2026 Isle Of Man TT on Tuesday 2nd June 2026.
Grid Walk - 05:37
Race Start - 10:10
Post Race Interviews 38:17
Grid Walk - 05:37
Race Start - 10:10
Post Race Interviews 38:17
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
02:54Good to have you with us.
02:56What have you made of TT26 so far?
02:59Yeah, I think it's been brilliant.
03:00You know, Dean Harrison's come out of the blocks on day one of practice and he's sort of never really
03:04looked back at it.
03:05We'll see what happens today in this race, but it's definitely been a great TT so far.
03:09Yeah, okay.
03:10Well, on to Supersport today then, Cam, Davey, after the frustration, I guess, and a little bit of disappointment for
03:17Dunlop in the Superbike race, the perfect opportunity for him to make up for that today.
03:21Yeah, absolutely it is. He's been strong, not just this week, but for the last, for as long as I
03:28can remember in this class.
03:29Michael is always, Michael is always, Michael is always strong on the Supersport bike, and not always when he's had
03:36the best package underneath him, but certainly that is not the case this year.
03:41He's got a fantastic package underneath him with that Ducati V2. It's an absolute flying machine, and he's riding it
03:47super well as well.
03:48So the other boys, Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison, are going to have the work cut out for them if
03:54they want to catch Michael on that Ducati V2.
03:58Yeah, on the back foot a little bit as well, Cam, after the Superbike result on Sunday.
04:03But we know, Michael, the way that he rides and the way that he motivates himself, this, if anything, is
04:09going to suit him.
04:09I think it will suit him, and as you said, he didn't get the result he wanted on that Superbike,
04:13so it's probably an extra shovel of coal on the fire for him today.
04:18OK, yes, you can probably just hear in the background there, Gary Thompson making the announcement, 20 minutes to a
04:23race start.
04:23The riders are about to get called up to the start line, so whilst they do that, let's take the
04:27opportunity to remind ourselves of what happened in the Supersport race here last year.
04:33Can't stop this fire, I will stand tall, please do desire.
04:44Harrison's on a mission, Cam.
04:47Can't fall, hear the crowd get alive.
04:50So Dunlop has extended the lead again.
04:55Dunlop, though, has found another half second. His 30th victory at the TT.
05:03He's into his strike now.
05:09Oh, wheelie from Todd over the crest.
05:14Dives up the inside, that's an incredible view.
05:20Eight Supersport wins in a row.
05:28All right, let's get down onto the grid now.
05:30As you can see, lovely conditions here now on the Isle of Man, and the atmosphere is building.
05:35Let's get to Grace and Lee.
05:37Yeah, thanks, Matt.
05:38Stood here on the start-finish line.
05:40It's very much dry, but as you can see the course information board behind us, there is a long list
05:45of damp patches around the course.
05:48And Lee, we've just seen a few riders taking a good look at that board walking up here.
05:52Yeah, it was no secret when I was racing, I didn't know the names of any of the corners.
05:56So it would be in this situation, Milky would very kindly come over and help me out with the ones
06:00I didn't know.
06:01But yeah, the guys have all took up to the front here and took all that information on board.
06:05So yeah, that's just another part of the process here at the Isle of Man TT that you wouldn't have
06:10to deal with on a short circuit.
06:11Yeah, but they do look after each other. As you say, Milky's been walking up and down here speaking to
06:16a few of the riders, which we'll try and do now as well.
06:19So I want to try and grab a word with number one, the leading Yamaha, which is Mike Brown.
06:25But he has swapped from an R9 to an R6. We'll just get a quick word from him to see
06:28how that's going.
06:29We just mentioned there, Mike, that you had a bike change in qualifying week from the R9 to the R6.
06:35How's that looking for you?
06:36Yeah, sure. Look, we brought the R9, but we didn't actually run it in qualifying. So we started with the
06:41R6.
06:43No, it's good. We're going to stick with it now.
06:45And going off as number one, is that something that you requested for this year?
06:49I didn't really put much thought into it until about now.
06:53No, maybe. I'm not so sure it was a good idea. But yeah, no, it's fine. Look, it's good pressure.
06:57It's good pressure.
06:58Well, what a unique experience. Go and enjoy it.
07:00Yeah, thank you.
07:02He says he didn't really think about it till now, Lee, but he's got no choice now, eh?
07:06That does not doubt me in any shape or form. Believe me, guys, that is not an act. That is
07:11the one and only Mike Brown.
07:13Yeah, brilliant there. But yeah, there is going to be a feeling to that because the first time you do
07:17set off at number one,
07:19you are scaring what we class as the animals, the birds, everything. That's the first bike through.
07:22So this is all a thought process that he will not have experienced.
07:25As John McGuinness says, you are the scarecrow. I didn't want to say that to you, but he was still
07:29smiling.
07:30But number two, we can see that the team are looking at us there, Lee.
07:33So we'll squeeze past the Jackson racing team and see if we can get a word with Paul Jordan,
07:39who's going off at number two and someone that's just come out of the 1.30 club the other day,
07:45Paul.
07:45Congratulations. Now on to the Ducati. How's it looking for this one?
07:49Yeah, it's looking good. You know, I felt strong during practice.
07:51So I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in here and getting this one out of the way.
07:54We've got another one during the week. So yeah, let's see how we get on.
07:57And I'm sure you're hopeful for a good result. Fourth last year, it'd be amazing to get a podium on
08:03this one, right?
08:04Yeah, that's the aim. You know, there's a lot of good company in this class, you know, in all classes
08:07especially.
08:08So yeah, we were in good company last year. So I believe that I can try and do a bit
08:11better.
08:12We wish you all the best for it, Paul. Thank you.
08:14Yeah, very composed and focused there. We'll try and squeeze up to number three.
08:21Maybe if we step back here. It's so busy on the grid today, Lee.
08:25This is probably the busiest we've seen it, I'd say.
08:27Yeah, I'm glad this barrier is on the right-hand side because the crowd up here is, yeah, like you
08:32said,
08:32busier than we've ever seen before. But Dean looks pretty relaxed there.
08:35So we might be able to just jump in and grab a quick word with him just before he puts
08:39his helmet on or as he's putting his helmet on.
08:42Well, we know that he's just been speaking to John McGuinness, so maybe.
08:46Scott, if we could just grab a quick word from you. Dean's just putting his helmet on there.
08:49But we did see John McGuinness had just been out for a lap speaking to Dean there,
08:54which is really nice to see that teammates are looking after each other.
08:56Any messages that John passed on to Dean?
08:59Yeah, I mean, you know, just reiterating exactly what the officials have said about, you know, rain flags and keeping
09:03your eye on the first lap,
09:04just making sure that you're cautious, really. John's obviously quite knowledgeable.
09:09So all of the main areas that he's pointed out to him, he's aware of.
09:12But he also said to him, just remember, there's always another race.
09:16So the stage is set then for the Monster Energy Super Sport Race.
09:20One will have all the action when we come back from the break.
09:32Welcome back. We are ready for a start here in the Monster Energy Super Sport Race.
09:36One, let's get straight up to our commentary team of Cam Donald and Andrew Coley.
09:40Thank you, Matt. Very much looking forward to getting bikes off the line with a day off yesterday
09:45and pouring rain over the whole island. Wet again this morning.
09:48But as you can see from the shadows and the bright sunshine, conditions are pretty good now.
09:52There are some damp patches out there. We'll talk with Cam Donald about that in just a moment.
09:56Here is, of course, what the riders are going to face around this epic island course.
10:0037.73 miles up over the mountain and back down again.
10:04Three laps, one compulsory pit stop. And this man leading us off.
10:08So Mike Brown at the front of the field for Super Sport.
10:11Away on the Yamaha. Tucks himself in. He goes off down Bray Hill.
10:19And second up, Paul Jordan on the Ducati Panigale.
10:23This, of course, the machine we're expected to see great pace from from Michael Dunlop,
10:27who's running at number six, number three, Dean Harris,
10:29now a winner from just a couple of days ago in the Superbike encounter.
10:33But not quite on the pace of Dunlop. Really, to be honest, Cam, no one was on the pace of
10:38Dunlop.
10:38In the same way Harrison dominated the big bike qualifying week,
10:41Dunlop qualified with the other classes, was at the top of the other classes.
10:45Showed the competition a clean set of heels on that V2 Ducati
10:48in every practice session of the Super Sport class.
10:52Here is Harrison now coming down towards Courterbridge on the first lap.
10:55So just look at the road cam. Doesn't seem to be too much dampness around there.
11:00But let's get this man away first. Michael Dunlop smoothly away.
11:06Everybody panning the phones just to get a glimpse of the man as he heads off.
11:09Of course, the most successful TT racer of all time with 33 wins to his name.
11:14He's going to make it 34 this afternoon.
11:16We just saw Josh Brooks head off on that immaculate prepared Suzuki GSXR 750.
11:22And then it was Mikey Evans.
11:24Yeah, and now Peter Hickman.
11:25So Hickman, of course, on the Triumph Street triple.
11:29And getting into that a little bit, Cam, this is a very different category, Super Sport.
11:33And we're seeing different engine configurations and different engine CCs.
11:37But there's parity across the class with some quite clever technical regs.
11:41Absolutely.
11:42Throttle allowed maximum RPMs and whatnot all adjusted through the machines to give it a more level playing field.
11:51And those are checked each year as well.
11:53And now you're seeing Harrison stretch in the legs.
11:55We won't see quite the top speeds we saw from Superbike, of course, with these smaller engine bikes.
12:02Motors might be slightly smaller, but they're still amazingly fast.
12:06As we've seen Dean exit Balagueri, he'd be straight back up to 170 miles an hour plus on his way
12:13down to Crosby.
12:15So, Cam, just before we came up to Contra, you saw, of course, Dean's teammate, John McGinnis,
12:19as we see Nathan Harrison set off off the line.
12:22And John had been out for a bit of a recce lap.
12:23He'd done like a 30-year lap, hadn't he, for the crowd, but also to look at the track conditions.
12:28And he came back and we said, are there any damp patches?
12:31Or where are the damp patches?
12:32And he said, everywhere.
12:33So there's a few.
12:34Obviously, they wouldn't have let them go if they were in dangerous places,
12:36but the usual suspects we're looking for.
12:39That's right.
12:40Well, there was a board up before the riders take to the start line,
12:43listing all the corners that had damp patches.
12:45But, of course, without a siding or warm-up lap,
12:47these riders are essentially heading straight out, untested, into these conditions.
12:51So it'll really favour those riders that have the years of experience under their belt.
12:56Absolutely.
12:57First on the road, of course, Mike Brown.
12:59Dean Harrison's on it already, isn't he?
13:01Means business.
13:02And we'll want to take the fight to Michael Dunlop if he can.
13:06Davo Johnson is being caught by Michael Dunlop very early on in this lap.
13:10As we head up there.
13:12Wow.
13:12Speed of Dunlop, Cam.
13:13Yep.
13:14Up the inside.
13:16And he just blasts past as he flicks that Ducati through Gorsley.
13:23Outrageous, the pace of it down the straight.
13:24Obviously picking up a little bit of a slipstream as well, but just super quick.
13:27And Dunlop here really wants to make amends for not being able to take the win the other day in
13:34Superbike.
13:35Still a good ride, of course, to be up on the podium, but he'll want the win here without a
13:40shadow of a doubt.
13:41He is the favourite, as Dean was in the other classes, as we said.
13:43So a little damp patch back there in Glen Helen.
13:45What are you doing as a rider, Cam, if you're on this high-speed recce lap?
13:49Well, there's not much you can do, but push very hard.
13:52You're probably taking a few more chances in these kinds of conditions.
13:55But again, Dean would have ridden this course before.
13:57He knows under the trees, near the white lines, where it's likely to hold that damp.
14:02And you ride accordingly.
14:04So maybe don't use as much of the road as you might have done in, you know, if we'd had
14:07blazing sunshine all day long.
14:09In some sections, probably quite as, not as much throttle input.
14:13And stand the bike up a little bit more.
14:15And let's have a look at these sector times to give an indication of how hard these boys are pushing
14:19off the get-go.
14:20And Harrison's up, look, by 1.5 seconds.
14:23So this wasn't necessarily what we were expecting.
14:25I'd say Dunlop's been on it all week.
14:27And Harrison might just make it tricky for him.
14:29You're on board with Mike Brown now.
14:31And a 4.29 in that first sector is slightly down on the time I'd expect to see in ideal
14:36conditions.
14:37Mike Brown.
14:39Douglas Road corner.
14:41He's a compact rider, Mike.
14:43He really fits well on this R6 Yamaha.
14:45And he's one of his stronger classes.
14:48And you can see why he really works at 1 with that machine.
14:52You're on board now with Jamie Coward running number four.
14:55Obviously fourth on the road, the rear view.
14:57Much more strobing effect today, Cameron, from the sun.
15:00You know, yesterday, sorry, in the Superbike race on Sunday with the grey cloud cover.
15:04You didn't get that.
15:04And now you are.
15:05It's late in the afternoon as well.
15:06Yeah, we had dark clouds and damp conditions this morning.
15:09And now it's beautiful sunshine splitting those skies as Michael Dunlop.
15:14Now he is hunting down Jamie Coward.
15:17Number six.
15:19When he sees number four ahead, he'll know that's 20 seconds that he's made up on road.
15:25Just out of reach, isn't he, through Kirk Michael.
15:27It's just, you're looking for that point where you can see through further.
15:30Look at Michael through that dip.
15:31He'll be in fifth gear on that Ducati, pushing 170 as he flicks that bike.
15:36Right, left, right.
15:38Now, Dunlop's won the last eight of these, Cam, but across three different manufacturers.
15:42Yamaha, Honda and Ducati last year.
15:45Few more people coming with the Ducati Panigale V2 this year.
15:48What's so special about it?
15:49Because it's seemingly the bike to have.
15:52Well, it's a larger capacity, near a thousand cc's, of course, an enormous amount of torque.
15:57It's limited to about 80% throttle usage to level that playing field.
16:01But, of course, it's the torque.
16:02And around the TT, you spend so much time in that middle part of the throttle,
16:06that middle part of the engine's power driving off the turns, up steep inclines.
16:11Got to be a benefit.
16:12And there we go.
16:14Great insight from Cameron Donald with two institutes named around here,
16:17of course, on a super bike and a super stock.
16:20And there are our splits at Balaft Bridge.
16:22So, Dean Harrison has extended his lead.
16:24Look, by half a second in the sector at the bottom of your screen there.
16:27And there's some three seconds quicker than Mike Brown.
16:29So, they're in a class of their own here at the moment in terms of their outright pace.
16:33As we've seen, Dean Harrison there, tucked in, pushing so, so hard.
16:38He's passed Paul Jordan.
16:39Now, this is incredible.
16:40A lot of people thought Michael Dunlop might just run away from the start,
16:43but Dean Harrison is going well on that Honda, and he's going to make a race out of this.
16:46Harrison gets on it straight away, doesn't he?
16:48He doesn't need any switching on.
16:50He's just on it and flat out immediately.
16:52Yeah, we've seen him set a first lap record in qualifying, record time for qualifying.
16:58He knows the course.
16:59He's got so much confidence in that bike beneath him.
17:02Local man as well now, moving to the Isle of Man.
17:05I've had a few messages from people saying they're very happy they've adopted him.
17:08Oh, as a manxman, and Dunlop is also pushing hard.
17:12So a foot off as he gets down to the end of Solby.
17:15He's straightened in the dirt on the outside of Solby Bridge as well.
17:17So, okay.
17:18We can be under no illusions then that he's having to try hard for this as you see Pete Hickman
17:23coming down the road.
17:23Hickman in P5 at the moment, but not at the top of the speed traps, but he is right in
17:29the heart of the scrap.
17:30P4 down to P10, Cameron.
17:32There is less than seven seconds separating those seven riders.
17:36So, all to play for and a good two and a half laps still to go.
17:39Yeah.
17:40There certainly is Mike Brown through Schoolhouse heading down towards Parliament Square.
17:44I tell you, Andrew, Pete wasn't the quickest at the beginning of the Superbike race either,
17:48but he found his feet and worked his way forward.
17:50So, I won't expect him to go backwards in this race.
17:53Knowing Pete, he'll only come on as the race progresses.
17:56As I say, he's a tenth behind Paul Jordan.
17:58Paul Jordan's only a second behind Mike Brown.
18:00Are you looking at now?
18:02Here comes Harrison, your current leader.
18:06Tear off in the background there as well.
18:08With the sunshine comes the bugs.
18:11And on board with Coward as he screams down the road into Schoolhouse.
18:16Watch here on the outside for the lay-by.
18:18Doesn't use it, Cam.
18:20No, gives himself a bit of room to breathe on the exit of that turn.
18:24And this is Jamie Coward's first Supersport race aboard the Rapid Honda CBR 600.
18:30Michael Dunlop closing him down.
18:31This is where Dunlop lost a little bit of time behind Nathan Harrison.
18:34Although he was close to Harrison in the Superbike race.
18:37Lost about 1 to 1.5 seconds through this same area.
18:41Good place to pass, obviously, is the hairpin.
18:42And I don't think he's going to be close enough this time round.
18:44No, he's going to need to get past quick.
18:46Because he's in a dice with Dean Harrison.
18:48He won't want to be held up on the mountain.
18:51But I would expect that Ducati should have the legs over the Honda as we start driving our way up
18:56the hill.
18:57Let's look at the splits.
18:57Yeah, Dunlop's taken 9 tenths out of Harrison in that section.
19:01So, he's done nicely there and brought the gap down by almost half.
19:051.1 between them.
19:07Hickman.
19:08Hickman comes into the splits.
19:11Necessary goes in.
19:12Is he going to drop in towards the top?
19:13He was sitting in P5 we saw at the previous marker.
19:19Out of Mayhill.
19:21White gate.
19:23Heading up.
19:24Look at him.
19:24He tucks him well behind that fairing for a tall lad.
19:27He's a big lad.
19:28He's taller than me.
19:29And I'm 6'2".
19:30And sport bike.
19:33I mean, he gets tucked in on one of those as well.
19:35He does well basically for a big lad on the smaller machines.
19:37He does well.
19:38He certainly does.
19:39As we see, Paul Jordan's doing well to hang on to the back of Dean Harrison.
19:43He is losing ground, but not as quickly as you may expect.
19:46Paul Jordan having a very good ride in this Supersport Race 1.
19:50There's something to be said as well, Cam, for when a quicker rider comes past you
19:53in terms of being able to pick up on what they're doing.
19:55If they've got more experience than you or just slightly different lines than you.
19:59And getting a tow effectively.
20:01But the Isle of Man course is very difficult to follow on.
20:03A rider in front can actually blind you if you like.
20:05It's very hard to see your points.
20:07Your turning points, especially at high speed.
20:09And you have to have an enormous amount of trust in the rider ahead of you.
20:12As we see Michael Dunlop literally suck the stickers of Jamie Coward's Honda
20:16on the way up the mountain.
20:18That just blasting past again.
20:19Brilliant view of the Isle of Man coastline in the background as well.
20:22This stunning little island in the Irish Sea.
20:24Harrison fully tucked in.
20:26I guess getting the smaller the bikes, the more important it is you're tucked in.
20:30Absolutely.
20:30It all counts that little bit more when you've got that little bit less horsepower.
20:36Up towards the top of the mountain then Harrison waiting for Dunlop to get to Bungalow.
20:42You're on board with Dean now.
20:44He makes his way down towards Keppel Gate.
20:47This rear-facing camera will really show the conditions there.
20:49Quite often the course will hold a little bit of dampness out of Kate's Cottage.
20:52So we'll have a look as he flicks it through the left.
20:55You can see a damp mark on the left-hand side.
20:58Yes.
20:59Right there.
20:59Yeah.
21:00That's often where it'll hold a little bit of dampness before you run on down to Craig
21:03Navar.
21:05On board with Hickman now.
21:06And you do just get the impression, don't you, that they really are being screamed up
21:10here very hard on the machinery.
21:13On a first lap of a race as close as this.
21:15They're being shown no mercy.
21:18With Harrison now as he runs towards the end of this first lap.
21:21And remember it will be in for the compulsory pit stop.
21:24So they can't do three laps without getting fuel.
21:27They won't need a tire as we head down towards Hillbury.
21:30Fantastic place to watch.
21:32Hanging over that wall.
21:33Very quick right-hander up to Kronkne-Moda.
21:35Just got a few corners to go.
21:37So at the minute Dean Harrison leads Michael Dunlop by just one second.
21:42Pit stop is going to be absolutely crucial.
21:45And then it's a two lap run to the checkered flag.
21:47So you can take the win in this first Supersport race.
21:58Welcome back to the Monster Energy Supersport TT race one.
22:01As we come into the pits, Michael Dunlop has got the lead down to two tenths of a second.
22:05Let's get down to Lee Johnston.
22:07Yeah, guys, we've took the advantage of jumping up onto the podium for this one
22:11because all these guys are within touching distance in the pits.
22:14We've just seen Mike Brown make a little wobble there.
22:16We're going to follow around onto Dean Harrison.
22:18The last pit stop this team did, Dean already had a 15-second lead.
22:23So there is a lot more pressure on with this one, albeit no rear wheel.
22:26You just see the guys putting the rear stand in there just to hold the bike steady
22:30so he doesn't spill when they're doing any fuel.
22:32If we pan back, we can see Mike Brown's team here.
22:34Alistair Russell's giving him all the information he needs.
22:37A little pat on the back.
22:39They've all set off.
22:41They've all set off within a second there.
22:43So nobody has really lost any time in the pits.
22:46We can pan back to Michael.
22:48Them guys are trying to put that rear stand in.
22:50Obviously, it's a single side swinging arm, so it's a little bit unstable compared to the other bikes.
22:56But he seems really calm there, guys.
22:58We know that Michael has a tendency to build into races.
23:01And with that few damp patches out there, are we going to see him now really take charge of this
23:06race
23:06heading onto the second and third lap as he pulls out of pit lane.
23:10It'll be interesting to see if Michael has gained or lost any time in the pits.
23:14But the top three that were in first definitely were all within the same second.
23:18So there was no real time advantage on that one.
23:20I think if Paul Jordan can get out like he did and latch on that toe again,
23:25you can see him sneak onto the podium.
23:27Peter Hickman would love to deny him that opportunity to get on the podium.
23:31He's got a bit of work to do as you see Dean Harrison on the exit of Ballard Gary.
23:35That does give you an idea of just how quick it is through there.
23:38On board with Davo Johnson.
23:40That's Josh Brooks behind in the run down to St. Ninians.
23:42He's going to have a look at him at St. Ninians up the inside.
23:46So Josh Brooks passes at St. Ninians crossroads cam.
23:50Hickman in the pit.
23:51What's going on here?
23:53Pliers on the fuel cap.
23:54Yeah, we've got major issues here.
23:56You don't use pliers to open a fuel cap unless it's jammed.
24:00That's a big blow for the Swan Racing team in that pit stop for sure.
24:04And it's only a splash and dash.
24:05So, you know, normally you'd have a bit of time while they're sorting out the rear wheel,
24:08but no rear wheel changes here.
24:09So Hickman lost time.
24:11And he was sitting in P4 look ahead of Herbertson coming into the grandstand.
24:17So is he going to drop down?
24:18And what's that going to mean to his chances of getting on the podium?
24:22Yeah, guys, we just got some information through there that Mike Brown's got a pit lane penalty.
24:26And I actually witnessed it happen.
24:28Paul Jordan set off a little bit before him and already had that momentum.
24:32And as a motorbike racer, your intention is to try and pass, if not go in front of the person
24:37beside you.
24:38And I think he forgot to put the pit lane limiter back on as he left.
24:41Because he gained a little bit of speed and then pulled back out of it.
24:44But obviously at that time it had already been picked up on the speed limit for him.
24:48So really, really frustrating.
24:50But I think he got suckered into that one with his good friend, Paul Jordan, just pulling alongside him at
24:54the time.
24:55Well, that's a real shame for Mike Brown.
24:57It's cost him eight places.
24:59Fifth when he came in and 13th when he's headed out.
25:02So, yeah, not what you need.
25:04Tiny little misjudgment and that's the cost.
25:07Crushing blow for Mike.
25:08Now he'll have to play catch up as we see Jamie Coward rip-roaring his way down to Ballot Crane
25:13traffic lights.
25:15Yeah, flats out through here.
25:16A lot of movement still from the rear swing on, Cam.
25:18But you were telling me this is one of the smoother parts of the course.
25:20Yeah, it just goes to show it's still bumpy.
25:22Rear-facing camera braking from fifth down to second gear out of Ballot Crane and heading up the hill.
25:28Here he is in the background.
25:30That's Davo Johnson.
25:32Josh Brooks on the Gixxer 750 with that Pepsi Cola-inspired ugly and co-colour scheme.
25:40That bike looks so cool.
25:42Kind of retro-modern look to it.
25:44Harrison then coming through at Glen Helen.
25:46What is the gap going to be when we see Michael Dunlop?
25:49The lead changed hands in the pits basically by just a tenth of a second.
25:54He's two tenths back and then Dunlop was in the lead by one tenth.
25:57Have a listen.
26:01Oh, just hearing that rear tire.
26:03It's just squirming as he comes out the top of Craig Willys Hill.
26:06Trying to carry all that speed up onto Cronkovody straight.
26:11How much of its speed is he going to need when we see the splits?
26:14That was Dunlop in Glen Helen.
26:15Here comes Davo Johnson now.
26:18Kawasaki through that same section.
26:20And Dunlop, 2.3 seconds camp.
26:23So the gap's gone up to 2.3.
26:26That's a big gain.
26:27We've seen it go back and forth by a few tenths, but 2.3 in one sector's a lot.
26:31And it's the sector that I thought Dean might have been able to make a little bit of ground back.
26:35That has been his strong sector.
26:37Maybe Michael Dunlop was using that first lap as a bit more of a siding lap than Dean Harrison.
26:41Especially with the damp patches out there would make sense, wouldn't it?
26:44Hickman coming through, still sitting in fourth.
26:464.6 now ahead of Josh Brooks, but he's some 15 seconds back from Paul Jordan.
26:51I think Herbertson might be in the mix there as well when he gets to the next split.
26:55So Hickman's still a way off the podium.
26:5715 seconds is a long way to try and make up.
26:59Yeah, but he's working his way into this race.
27:01He's definitely picking up speed as it goes.
27:03He'll be more motivated after that little mishap in the pit stop, surely.
27:06Yeah, 4.4 off the back of Herbertson.
27:08Look after he's come through Glen Helen.
27:09So here we are.
27:10Kurt Michael, Dean Harrison.
27:12Can he come back now at Michael Dunlop?
27:14Can he?
27:15Can he come back?
27:16Look, he's using all the road and then some.
27:18He's pushing that little Honda to its absolute limit.
27:21Andrew, I'm not sure there's a lot more that he can do.
27:25That may be just at the limit of the bike's performance.
27:27And he's a fast starter, as we said.
27:28He's a fast starter.
27:30He knows that bike inside out, but so does this man.
27:32With his Ducati.
27:33Michael Dunlop.
27:34He won both Supersport races last year on a very similar spec machine.
27:39Giving Ducati their first win in 30 years.
27:43Can he give him another one?
27:44Can he take his ninth Supersport TT race win?
27:47Absolutely.
27:49It's an epic run.
27:50It really, especially across the manufacturers.
27:53It really is riding different machinery to do it.
27:55Brooks right out towards the curb on the outside.
27:58Kirk, Michael, Kamitz.
27:59We went through it 30 miles an hour the other night and this is a bit quicker.
28:03Yeah, about 170 on a Supersport bike as we ride on board with Dave Johnson.
28:07Now we see Peter Hickman aboard the Triumph.
28:13Hickman is going to have to go some.
28:15He is tucked in.
28:16He does look a bit more business-like here.
28:19Oh, our rear end moving slightly on turning.
28:22Oh, I see the bike just drift slightly on changing direction.
28:24No one is tucking in harder on the machine than this man though.
28:28Dean Harrison.
28:29Yeah, it's what we saw in Superbike, wasn't it, the other day.
28:32Sorry, Dean is tucked in on that Honda.
28:34He's as close to the fuel tank as a coat of paint.
28:37Good lad.
28:39Over Solbury Bridge at the end of Solbury straight there and up to Ginger Hall now.
28:44Look at the crowd.
28:44Four seconds though.
28:45Four seconds, Kam.
28:46Sorry to interrupt.
28:47Balaf Bridge.
28:47The sector's come in and Donald's taking another 1.7 off him.
28:51So yeah, the crowd are loving it, but Harrison won't be when he sees his split boards.
28:54No, he's...
28:55Michael's really starting to get some momentum on there.
28:57Will he run wide on the exit of Solbury Bridge again?
29:00And he has up into the dirt, leaving nothing on the table.
29:05On board with Ian Hutchinson now.
29:07Another Ducati mounted rider.
29:09Whereabouts is he?
29:10Oh, he's passing.
29:11That's Mikey Evans on the Dafferbet machine.
29:14So nicely done.
29:15Moves up a position on the road.
29:17As they head into Kirk Michael and both of them are catching Connor Cummins.
29:21Yes.
29:22On the Suzuki.
29:22Cummins has obviously gone through, hasn't he?
29:24Past Mikey earlier on.
29:26That's Dino through Kaytree.
29:30And yeah, absolutely flat out.
29:32But is he as flat out as this man?
29:35Taking a look back at this moment from Michael Dunlop.
29:37Breaking end of Solby Straight.
29:38Solby Bridge.
29:39Back to second gear.
29:41Picks up the throttle.
29:42Uses all the road out.
29:44Literally within inches of the stone wall on the left-hand side.
29:48There's a man that's comfortable with his bike and his chosen line.
29:51Absolutely, isn't it?
29:52I wondered at first if he'd open the throttle up to try to get the bike to turn in more.
29:57Almost drifted.
29:57Looked like maybe the nose was going to run wide.
29:59But either way, you don't want to run any wider than that.
30:01No, he's been consistent.
30:04Dean Harrison absolutely screaming up towards Ramsey Hairpin.
30:08He crosses the timing line there.
30:10Dunlop, our leader, still waiting for him to come through.
30:13Yeah, let's get the split on this one.
30:15Has the gap grown or is it closing?
30:19If it's gone out again.
30:21Oh, my goodness me.
30:23Okay, so Dunlop is trying very hard now.
30:25It was four and it's 7.2.
30:28So the gap has gone up again.
30:30And by some margin this time around,
30:32Michael Dunlop is on it for his ninth in a row.
30:35And, yeah, it's Dean Harrison now.
30:37He's going to have to find something special, I think, to come back at him.
30:39Yeah, he certainly is.
30:41Jamie Coward.
30:42He makes his way up Mayhill.
30:46He's looking super smooth on that Rapid Honda.
30:48He's really coming to terms with that new team and new bike well.
30:53Pete Hickman launches it as he makes his way down to Schoolhouse.
30:58He's tucked in.
31:01I'm loving our new camera angles this year.
31:03We mentioned it in the Superbike race that we've got 60% more coverage
31:07around the course than previous years.
31:08You just pieced together those corner runs.
31:10Hutchinson past Cummins.
31:14Listen to that.
31:15Absolutely flat out.
31:16Oh, look at this.
31:17Cummins gets back in the slipstream and almost comes alongside him.
31:22Dean just at the end of the mountain mile.
31:25Spinning it up on the exit.
31:27He is still trying as well, so he hasn't given up the chase.
31:30Hickman further down the mountain.
31:32But look at this.
31:33The physicality of riding this course.
31:36Yeah, and you can hear the engine note change as he goes left to right on that tyre.
31:40As we see Dean now making his way across the mountain.
31:44Yeah, he's just through bungalow.
31:467.2 was the gap before.
31:50So he was still lighting up that rear tyre when we saw that fantastic rear shot.
31:54And the question mark is over whether or not he has any kind of response.
31:57We are already halfway through this race.
31:59So, you know, he could still come back at Dunlop, but we'll see.
32:03No, he can't.
32:049.6 seconds is the gap.
32:06Dunlop's come through bungalow as well.
32:08So this gap is going up exponentially, Cam.
32:11The first lap was so close.
32:13What's the difference here?
32:15You know, they've been in.
32:15The fuel load was the same at the start of lap one as it was at the start of lap
32:18two.
32:19What is the difference here?
32:20Has Dunlop just woken up?
32:22I think Dunlop has found his feet.
32:24Dean's been pretty much at the limit since the start.
32:27I think they're both just riding as hard as they can to their machine strengths.
32:30But I think the Ducati is going to come out on top today.
32:34Well, Heckman still trying to find his way on to the podium with those two in the battle out front.
32:39And here is another battle race.
32:40That's Pieri Biann coming up behind Jamie Kringle.
32:45It's Michael Mace.
32:49Three bikes up towards Ramsey Hairpin.
32:51Oh, up the inside.
32:53Lovely dive. Maybe runs a bit deep.
32:56All to play for.
32:57Still a lap to go.
32:58On the damn passage.
33:08Welcome back to the Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1.
33:11This is Ryan Whitehall on the R6 and on the lock stops as well.
33:15Nicely held onto it down at Parliament Square.
33:18These guys have been hanging onto it as well.
33:20Dean Harrison put up a brilliant fight in lap one with Michael Dunlop.
33:24They were trading tenths of seconds, Cam.
33:27But lap two, Dunlop's come alive.
33:28And Heckman is looking to find a place on the podium.
33:30Wow. We're going to see a podium like we did the other day.
33:33The same three contenders in different positions.
33:36Heckman the other day, there was a question mark there, wasn't there,
33:39whether he's going to have enough for six laps on the big bike.
33:41You kind of...
33:42Oi!
33:43You kind of feel like he's feeling his way back in even here.
33:46Yeah, the confidence will be building, as is his speed on the Swan Racing Triumph.
33:50He's doing a great job.
33:51And if he could be on the podium, I'm sure he'd be more than content with third place in this
33:55race.
33:57This is Colin Cummings on the 11 and Ian Hutchinson on the 12.
34:01Ian just in front. Cummings going with him now.
34:03Harrison, still you can hear the wheelspring cam.
34:06Yeah, you can.
34:08He's absolutely ringing the neck of this 600.
34:10Now, of course, he rides week in, week out in the British Supersport Championship on that same 600 Honda.
34:18Heckman again.
34:21Oh, limiter! Just on the limiter, wasn't it?
34:24Yep.
34:25Oh, as he passes, Josh Brooks.
34:27No, Brooks, look, he's sitting in P6 at the minute and he's a few seconds back on her,
34:32but Cernan using all the road.
34:34So I wonder if he'll get a bit of a toe from Hickman here.
34:36Yeah, he just slipped on past there.
34:38Douglas Road corner.
34:38Put the foot out just to say, thanks, Josh.
34:40I'm coming through.
34:42We ride on board now with Paul Jordan.
34:45This is the run down towards Claytree Cam.
34:47Yeah, he's back down to second gear through that tight left.
34:49Now he's clicking gears and building speed rapidly as we head up towards the K tree.
34:54Look at that.
34:55145, 150 miles an hour through a very technical part of the course.
35:00From the darkness into the light as well.
35:02The contrast there suddenly becomes really hard to see.
35:05Dunlop in Parliament Square.
35:07Jamie Coward heading towards that area.
35:10He's coming into Milne Town next.
35:12Here it is.
35:12Look at that.
35:13Crest it.
35:16End of the straight now.
35:17Schoolhouse next Cam.
35:18That's the one.
35:20He'll be flicking it through there and then hot on his way down into Ramsey.
35:24Dunlop up to the hairpin.
35:26And look at the split on lap three.
35:30Three seconds taken off Harrison again.
35:31The gap is up to 21.8.
35:33I think at this point Harrison will have waved the white flag as it were.
35:38Right here we've got Paul Jordan round the outside of Mike Brown.
35:42As we head up towards Waterworks.
35:45There's Pete Hickman.
35:46Josh Brooks is hanging on to the back of him.
35:48He's really getting a toe from Hickey.
35:50He is indeed.
35:51And he's only 4.8 now off the back of Herbertson.
35:54So he's got his eye on Herbertson's position for sure.
35:56This is Hutchie looking back at Connor Cummins.
35:59They've been together for ages as well.
36:01Absolutely.
36:01Connor is not letting go of Hutchie.
36:03Connor on the GSXR.
36:06And of course Connor was on the Burrows race in Ducati last year.
36:10And now he's tracing that machine.
36:12Up on the mountain.
36:14You're looking at Harrison through Bungalow.
36:18And up Haleward still with the wheelspin cam.
36:20At this point is the tyre giving you more wheelspin?
36:22Have you used it that hard?
36:23Or is it just that he's that on it?
36:25It's past its best.
36:26The tyre is warming up.
36:27But still those Dunlop tyres,
36:29they work very well all the way to the end of the race.
36:34Blip for the revs.
36:35You can see the heli in the background with the chase camera as well.
36:38Mike Brown has not let go of Paul Jordan.
36:41He's hanging on to the back of him.
36:42As we head up through the Bungalow.
36:44Yeah, he's definitely going to get this tow all the way off the mountain, I'd say.
36:48Pairs of riders everywhere.
36:49But not this man.
36:50Dunlop, you need it by 23.4 seconds.
36:53Very much going solo in this one.
36:55Has picked off everybody that he wanted to.
36:58Yeah, that blitz racing.
36:59Bilcher Caddy is not missing a beat.
37:02It looks like it's going to do the job nicely.
37:04Josh Brooks, Cam.
37:05Look at the splits.
37:06Was 0.5 of a second behind.
37:08So Hickman here, in his charge to the podium,
37:10is dragging Brooks along.
37:13Trying to chase down that position of Herbertson.
37:17Well, that's the way the TT can work sometimes.
37:19Passing riders, catching riders can work for you.
37:22Can work against you.
37:24Michael Dunlop drops down into the nook.
37:26Into the tight right hairpin.
37:29Just ahead of him on the road.
37:30His target, of course, Dean Harrison.
37:32Harrison's done another brilliant ride.
37:34There's no doubt that he's been absolutely flat out.
37:36But he hasn't been able to match the split times of this man.
37:39Over to the right hand side.
37:41He's not even flat out as he comes out through Governor's dip.
37:44But Michael Dunlop has absolutely got it done.
37:46It is a ninth class win in a row.
37:51And another TT win.
37:52He's up to 34.
37:56Fantastic performance then by Michael Dunlop.
37:58Taking the win from Harrison, who was absolutely flat out.
38:00Hickman did make it to the podium.
38:02And he dragged with him.
38:03Look, Josh Brooks up ahead of Herbertson into P5.
38:05With Paul Jordan in fourth.
38:14Congratulations, Peter Hickman.
38:15A podium there for the Swan Triumph.
38:18You built into that one and took third on the last lap.
38:20How did it feel for you out there?
38:22Yeah, really happy to get the Swan Triumph on the podium.
38:26Not my conditions at all then.
38:28It's probably the wettest I've ever ridden the TT circuit.
38:31Organised obviously always do a great job.
38:33They give us loads of information as we roll through that no man's land
38:36up to the start.
38:37And honestly, they've filled the board with wherever it was wet.
38:41It's just not my thing at all.
38:43Not saying I could go and win because I genuinely don't think I could.
38:46You know, the two boys, first and second, are absolutely on the money.
38:50Dean's riding brilliant in the British Supersport Championship as we know.
38:53Michael's always been a small bike rider.
38:55He's so, so fast on the small bikes.
38:57He's got that Ducati absolutely singing.
38:59So, I don't think even if I was 100% fit and it was perfectly dry,
39:04I still don't think the result will be any different to be totally honest.
39:12I held my own sort of lap one.
39:14Obviously, reading the conditions, the conditions were a little bit sketchy.
39:18I sort of, I can hold my own in the bottom part of the track and feel,
39:21but then I'll lose a lot once we get to going up over the drag over the mountain,
39:25things like that.
39:26So, I feel like that was all I had for today.
39:28So, the little 600 I think has done really well.
39:31Fair play to having a Honda bike.
39:32Did miss a beat the whole race and roll on later on in the week.
39:35I mean, Peter Hickman was saying that's probably the wettest he's ridden the course out there.
39:39We saw John McGuinness speaking to you before you headed out for the race.
39:42How did you find the conditions out there?
39:44Do you know what?
39:45The conditions, yes, there was a few damp patches, but everywhere that were damp,
39:49we were told about before we set off.
39:50So, every time I approached any place where they set it down, I read it on lap one,
39:54and then I knew what to expect for lap two.
39:56And the conditions did improve quite a bit as the race went on, quicker than I actually thought they would
40:00have done.
40:00The only place I feel like you'd have to be careful if you were to go back out again now
40:04would be the entrance to the waterworks.
40:06There's two tight rights out of Ramsey Epp, and you've got to be really careful over the double white line.
40:10Apart from that, the track's in good shape, to be fair.
40:19Michael Dunlop, congratulations on your win.
40:21You've looked strong all week in qualifying and now cemented it with a top step on the podium.
40:26How do you feel?
40:27Yeah, it was good. Obviously, the bike's been good all week, which we've been really comfortable.
40:31So, the main thing was to try and put it today and see the conditions were a wee bit strange
40:37today,
40:38but the bike never must have beat. The boys worked really hard, and as I say, it was nice to
40:41be back in here winning again.
40:42How confident did you feel coming into this? That Panigale has looked strong all week.
40:47Yeah, it's been good all week. It's been good last year.
40:50I'd say it's against everybody else's bike. It's a next-generation bike, and the bike's good.
40:54And the bikes, we've been working well. The bike, the team's working really, really good.
40:58So, you know, it's great to have another one under my belt.
41:11Despite the tricky conditions, actually, chaps, there are a couple of riders who put together their best performances in Supersport.
41:17And even the odd personal best, Davey out there as well.
41:20Yeah, absolutely. In those conditions, it's always impressive to see riders setting personal best lap times.
41:27Not ideal conditions. I know there's a few damp patches out there.
41:31So, a few riders setting personal bests is good to see.
41:35Paul Jordan challenging for the podium, and a couple of riders further down.
41:40Mitch Rees and Pierre Ebyan setting their personal bests out there.
41:44Nine in a row for Michael Dunlop. Patrick, you guys, all three of you know what it's like to win
41:48TTs,
41:48but to go into any class and dominate on different machinery over such a long period of time,
41:52you've got to take your hat off to it, haven't you?
41:54Yeah, 2019 was the last time that anybody won this class other than Michael Dunlop.
41:58And it's sort of the longevity, and you know, just finishing a TT is an achievement in itself,
42:02but finishing consistently on the top box in this class, he sort of really is a dominant force.
42:07And who knows where he could take it, you know?
42:09Nobody really looks that close to be able to challenge him on that V2 Ducati.
42:15Well, let's ask the question then, Davey.
42:18What would it take for you to challenge him next year in this class?
42:21It's going to be tough, for sure. Michael definitely has his strengths.
42:26And with those, the smaller bike classes, Sport Bike and Super Sport,
42:32he's incredibly strong in both them classes, but also has incredibly strong packages.
42:37So, for anybody to challenge him, it's going to take an equally strong package to even be in the battle
42:44with him.
42:44It's hard to imagine anybody being able to run that bike harder than he did around this course today,
42:50but sometimes I guess you've got to hold your hands up and go,
42:53oh, second is the best I can get today, as difficult as that might be.
42:56And I think that's how Dean has taken it, you know?
42:59He's happy to be probably where he expected to be, but did that mean he went out and didn't try
43:03as hard?
43:03Absolutely not. I mean, look, he was so fast on that first lap.
43:07I mean, he had the edge over Michael in the beginning through those first sectors,
43:10and he just never, ever let up the entire race.
43:14He pushed so hard.
43:15And it just, you know, Dean just continues to impress me every race I see.
43:19He just seems to show more grit, more resolve.
43:22And that was a perfect example.
43:24Another example of grit and resolve has been Peter Hickman's return to the TT this year.
43:29Patrick, in this Super Sport class, he gets himself on the podium with a really gritty ride,
43:35especially that last couple of laps.
43:37Yeah, I think that's the key, isn't it? It's a rebuild.
43:39I think there's been no secret that he's coming to this TT,
43:41not as fit as what he has been in previous years.
43:44And to go out in the first Super Bike race,
43:46he wasn't even sure if he was going to be able to do the full six laps.
43:49So to be able to do that and bring that home in second and now have another podium,
43:52it's a real solid start to TT 26 for Peter Hickman.
43:56So the Dunlop dynasty continues then in Super Sport.
43:59Nine wins on the bounce for Michael.
44:01That's 34 in total.
44:03And he is odds on to make it 35 in the sport bike category.
44:07But as we know, this is the Isle of Man TT and anything can happen.
44:10We'll see you tomorrow night for more.
44:26We'll see you tomorrow night.
44:31Here is the next.
Comments