Delayed start, shortened race
Originally scheduled for 10:45 a.m., the race had to be postponed until the evening. The field finally started at 6:30 p.m. for a shortened race over two laps instead of the planned three. Right at the start, Davey Todd (Monster Energy by 8TEN Racing BMW Motorrad) took the lead. At Glen Helen, he was just 0.2 seconds ahead of Harrison. James Hillier (Muc-Off Racing Honda) followed 5.3 seconds behind, followed by Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda) and Michael Dunlop (MD Racing BMW).
Narrow gaps in the chasing pack
While Todd slightly extended his lead up to Ballaugh (lead: 1 second), Dunlop was able to improve to third place – but was already ten seconds behind the leader. Hillier and Nathan Harrison dropped back to fourth and fifth. Dominik Herbertson (HRRC/Adam Hewitt Ltd Honda) completed the top six.
Lap times at the highest level
After the first run at the Ramsey Hairpin, Todd was two seconds ahead of Harrison, who in turn was able to pull clear of Dunlop (+13.3 seconds). At Creg ny Baa, Todd also overtook Dunlop on the road. With a first race lap of 133.712 mph (≈ 215.1 km/h), he was just ahead of Harrison (133.658 mph ≈ 215.0 km/h). Dunlop rounded off the top 3 with 131.061 mph (≈ 210.9 km/h). Hillier, Nathan Harrison and Ian Hutchinson (moobob/MLav Racing BMW) were close together in positions four to six.
The other pursuers were also fast: Herbertson (129.949 mph), Conor Cummins (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing BMW, 129.919 mph), Paul Jordan (129.859 mph) and Josh Brookes (129.429 mph) were only a few seconds apart.
Harrison takes the lead
On the second and decisive lap, Harrison was able to turn the race in his favor. He was already 2.3 seconds ahead of Todd at Glen Helen. Dunlop was already 20 seconds behind at this point and was therefore finally out of the fight for victory. Hillier remained in fourth place, followed by Hutchinson and Nathan Harrison.
Record lap brings victory
Thanks to a clear track in front of him, Dean Harrison was able to steadily extend his lead. At Ballaugh the lead was three seconds, at the Ramsey Hairpin it was already five. Todd lost more time on the way from Ginger Hall to the mountain passage due to lapping. By the Bungalow, the gap had almost doubled.
With a sensational final lap of 135.692 mph (≈ 218.4 km/h) – Harrison’s fastest ever lap on the Mountain Course – the Honda rider took his first TT win since the 2019 Senior Race. It was also the first Superstock win for Honda since 2013.
Podium and top placings
Davey Todd crossed the finish line in second place at 134.077 mph (≈ 215.8 km/h), followed by Michael Dunlop, who was exactly on a par with him at 134.081 mph. It was Dunlop’s 47th Tourist Trophy podium in total – a tie with TT legend John McGuinness.
Fourth to tenth place went to:
- James Hillier – 131.937 mph (≈ 212.3 km/h)
- Ian Hutchinson – 131.606 mph (≈ 211.8 km/h)
- Conor Cummins – 131.486 mph (≈ 211.6 km/h)
- Nathan Harrison – 130.840 mph (≈ 210.6 km/h)
- Dominic Herbertson – 131.182 mph (≈ 211.1 km/h)
- Josh Brookes – 130.760 mph (≈ 210.4 km/h)
- James Hind – 132.152 mph (≈ 212.7 km/h)
Pleasing: Michael Evans (Dafabet Racing Honda) also cracked the 130 mph mark for the first time (130.094 mph ≈ 209.3 km/h) and finished in 11th place.
