Having fallen out with the Honda Legends team, who he enjoyed so much success with last year, Michael Dunlop certainly proved the doubters wrong during this year's TT racing. On an unproven BMW S1000RR, the Irish racer stormed to three victories in three races on the German bike. Job done.
A great weekend all round for the BMW team
What can you say about the combination of Michael and the BMW other than stunning? A switch of tyres from Metzeler to Dunlop during practice and with the BMW's stability under control, all that was left was for Dunlop to demonstrate a staggering level of balls and determination. Although his Superbike and Superstock wins were impressive, it was the Senior that show his true spirit. Seeing your brother's bike wrecked at the side of the road would have fried most rider's minds, but after checking William was OK during a pit stop, Michael just got on with the job in hand. Awesome. Interestingly he is also contracted by BMW to take on the Macau GP; would you bet against him?
Aside from Dunlop, you have to say Conor Cummins, Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman were the real stand-out riders of the TT. Conor repaid Honda's faith in him with two podium places while Dean rode superbly to not only take his first win (making history in the process as his dad Conrad also won a sidecar TT) but also a stunning second spot in the Superstock TT. Peter Hickman's newcomer performance was nothing short of mind blowing. An average speed of 129.1mph on your first trip to the Island - wow! Bruce Anstey's new outright lap record of 132.298mph was pretty special, McGuinness getting his first electric bike win (117mph average!) was a ray of light in a terrible TT fortnight for the injured rider and Guy Martin's strong showing and hysterical post-race quotes were also a highlight. But, as always at the TT, there is also a dark side to the TT.
PH2 extends all its sympathy to the family and friends of Karl Harris and Bob Price, who lost their lives during this year's racing.
Dainese Superbike
1. Michael Dunlop (BMW Hawk Racing)
2. Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki)
3. Conor Cumins (Honda Racing)
Monster Supersport TT 1
1. Gary Johnson (Smiths Triumph)
2. Bruce Anstey (Valvoline Padgetts)
3. Michael Dunlop (MD Racing)
RL360 Superstock
1. Michael Dunlop (BMW MD Racing)
2. Dean Harrison (RC Express Kawasaki)
3. Bruce Anstey (Valvoline Padgetts)
SES TT Zero
1. John McGuinness (Mugen)
2. Bruce Anstey (Mugen)
3. Robert Barber (Buckeye Current RW-2.x)
Monster Supersport TT 2
1. Michael Dunlop (MD Racing)
2. Bruce Anstey (Valvoline Padgetts)
3. William Dunlop (Tyco Suzuki)
Bikenation Lightweight TT
1. Dean Harrison (RC Express Kawasaki)
2. James Hillier (Quattro Plant Kawasaki)
3. James Cowton (Stuart Smith Racing)
Poker Stars Senior TT
1. Michael Dunlop (BMW Hawk Racing)
2. Conor Cumins (Honda Racing)
3. Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki)
Sidecar race 1
1. Conrad Harrison / Mike Aylott
2. John Holden / Andrew Winkle
3. Tim Reeves / Gregory Cluze
Sidecar race TT 2
1. Dave Molyneux / Patrick Farrance
2. Conrad Harrison / Mike Aylott
3. John Holden / Andrew Winkle
The Malaysian track's long straights suit fast bikes and true to form it was the Aprilia of Guintoli that lined up on pole alongside Sykes' Kawasaki. Although speed is irrelevant if you are in the gravel!
A bit of early corner carnage saw Sykes, Lowes and Baz all on the floor while Rea was ran wide, leaving Guintoli with clear air ahead and only Tiger Toni Elias, Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies anywhere near him. True to form, the race was effectively an Aprilia show as Melandri and Guintoli broke free and fought for the win, which was eventually decided in favour of the Italian.
Race two saw a grid of battered and bruised Brits lining up against the rapid Aprilias. Could anyone keep up with the RSV4s of Guintoli and Melandri? After an MV on fire brought out a red flag, the restarted race once again saw the Aprilias out at the front in the resulting ten lap sprint however this time Sykes was also in the mix. Despite a valiant effort, the Kawasaki never had the pace to stay with the Aprilias and Melandri took the win from Guintoli after a cracking last lap with Sykes in third.
A disappointing Supersport race for the Brits saw both Coghlan and Kennedy crash out. Van der Mark narrowly took the win from Cluzel.
Race 1:
1. Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team)
2. Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team)
3. Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki)
Race 2:
1. Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team)
2. Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team)
3. Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team)
Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) - 3, 7
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) - DNF, 3
Leon Haslam (Honda) - 7, 11
Jonathan Rea (Honda) - 6, 6
Chaz Davies (Ducati) - 4, 8
Alex Lowes (Suzuki) - DNF, 9
Christian Iddon (Bimota) - DNF, 16
Leon Camier (BMW) - 10, 12
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