Michael Dunlop takes victory in Lightweight TT

Michael Dunlop led Glen Helen in the first round with 2.68 seconds on Coward. With a gap of just 0.676 seconds, Gary Johnson followed. This was followed by Bonetti, Michael Rutter and Johnston.

Michael Dunlop takes victory in Lightweight TT

Coward got two tenths of a second off Ballaugh, but until Ramsey Dunlop had extended his lead to four seconds. Johnson was still in third place, but already with a gap of 5.8 seconds on Coward. Only 0.158 seconds behind was teammate Johnston.

John McGuinness had to give up his race at Ballaugh.

Over the mountain, Coward took 3.7 seconds on Dunlop and took the lead in Cronk ny Mona for the first time. He drove a lap average of 120.65 mph in the first lap. In third place was Johnston, ahead of Stafano Bonetti, Johnson and Paul Jordan. Davey Todd had to park his Norton in the pit.

When Glen Helen passed for the second time, Dunlop had caught up again. The gap was just under half a second. Johnston drove to three, just two seconds ahead of Bonetti. Jordan passed Johnson in fifth place.

Dunlop continued to catch up, and Ramsey was back in the lead. But Coward did not give up and had a better run through bungalow which was only a good second apart. In the last stretch Dunlop was able to regain some distance and crossed the finish line with an average speed of 122,746 mph. That was only three hundredths slower than his own lap record. At the finish, he had to wait when Coward crossed the finish line to see if he had won. Since the TT is started at 10-second intervals, it does not necessarily mean that the first one who finishes the race has also won …

Coward drove a lap of 122.52 mph, 1.299 seconds behind Dunlop, finishing second. It was his first TT podium ever. Johnston finished third. Horst Saiger finished the Top10.

Results:

1 6 Michael Dunlop Paton / Paton SC-Project Reparto Corse 37:13.161 121.646 Silver
2 15 Jamie Coward Kawasaki / SB Tuning / CMS / KW Electrica 37:14.460 121.576 Silver
3 9 Lee Johnston Kawasaki / Ashcourt Racing – KMR Kawasa 37:37.151 120.353 Silver
4 12 Paul Jordan Kawasaki / RC Express Dafabet Devitt Raci 37:42.426 120.073 Silver
5 8 Michael Rutter Kawasaki / Bathams KMR 37:47.367 119.811 Silver
6 4 Stefano Bonetti Paton / Paton SC-Project Reparto Corse 37:50.371 119.653 Silver
7 7 Gary Johnson Kawasaki / KMR Kawasaki 37:57.315 119.288 Silver
8 10 Peter Hickman Norton / Norton Motorcycles 38:02.743 119.004 Silver
9 20 Dominic Herbertson Kawasaki / Cowton Racing 38:36.735 117.258 Silver
10 14 Horst Saiger Paton / Team ILR / Mark Coverdale 38:49.385 116.621 Silver
11 18 James Chawke Paton / Mark Coverdale 39:03.074 115.940 Silver
12 11 Ian Lougher Paton / Team ILR / Mark Coverdale 39:19.577 115.129 Bronze
13 17 John Barton Kawasaki / Wemoto.com 39:41.670 114.061 Bronze
14 25 Jonathan Perry Kawasaki / Jonathan Perry Racing JPR 39:45.615 113.873 Bronze
15 26 Michal Dokoupil Kawasaki / Novaks International 39:51.974 113.570 Bronze
16 34 Shaun Anderson Suzuki / Stephen Bond / Flitwick Motorcycle 40:04.407 112.983 Bronze
17 32 Xavier Denis Kawasaki / Optimark Road Racing Team 40:19.525 112.277 Bronze
18 29 Jim Hodson Kawasaki / JGH Racing / iDesign 40:25.924 111.980 Bronze
19 40 Rob Whittall Kawasaki / Moto-Design / Satori Racing 40:36.674 111.486 Bronze
20 27 Darren Cooper Kawasaki / JMC Mechanical & Electrical 40:41.057 111.286 Bronze
21 23 Barry Furber Suzuki / DC Auto Repairs Newtown 40:47.407 110.997 Bronze
22 33 Dave Moffitt Kawasaki / Slim Chance Racing 40:59.834 110.437
23 48 Masayuki Yamanaka Kawaski / Team ILR / Mark Coverdale 41:05.297 110.192
24 37 Allann Venter Kawasaki / VRS Racing 41:17.414 109.653
25 35 Maria Costello Paton / Frog Property Developments Ltd 41:23.664 109.377
26 43 Anthony Redmond Kawasaki / Reds Garage 41:27.421 109.212
27 49 David Madsen-Mygdal Kawasaki / RJP Racing 41:38.877 108.711
28 39 Paul Potchy Williams Kawasaki / RB Engineering 41:42.037 108.574
29 46 Miroslav Sloboda Kawasaki / LAKI RT 53 41:58.187 107.878
30 47 Nicolas Pautet Kawasaki / Kawasaki France / 3P Racing 42:38.078 106.195
31 50 George Spence Suzuki / Dod Spence Racing / Bruce Cobbu 42:59.547 105.312