Before the Superstock race there was only one question on people's lips - could Michael Dunlop make it three out of three? The only man who looked likely to give him any competition was John McGuinness, who certainly woke up after a slow start on the last lap of
the Superbike race
when he set a new outright lap record. The
Supersport race
was always likely to go the way of a Dunlop (either Michael or William but big bikes are John's domain, would the old lion roar again?
Guy Martin was the fastest in Superstock practice, however after the disruption caused by the poor weather this wasn't really a form guide. That said, a large proportion of TT spectators would love to see Guy take his first TT win.
Guy Martin was pushing hard on the Tyco Suzuki
From the off Michael Dunlop's new-found confidence showed he would be the man to beat, but John McGuinness certainly wasn't hanging around, making up the 10-second gap and catching Cameron Donald in less than a half a lap. Something Michael Dunlop was doing behind to Bruce Anstey.
However after lap one it was Gary Johnson who topped the leader board on his rapid Kawasaki with Dunlop second, Guy in third and John McGuinness fourth with less than 10 seconds splitting them. Unfortunately for Cameron Donald his lack of speed was a bike issue, forcing his retirement at the end of lap one.
Lap two and Guy Martin was catching McGuinness on the road while Michael Dunlop was hot on the heels of Gary Johnson. It was too close to call and one poor pitstop could be the deciding factor. The TT Legends team are well practiced at stops and sure enough Michael exited the pits right on leader Johnson's tail while poor Guy got a speeding penalty (not the first time), dropping him into fifth spot and promoting McGuinness to third. Not that it mattered, a few miles later Guy's Suzuki stopped running...
How hard was Michael Dunlop pushing on lap three? However despite all Dunlop's hard work Johnson was retaining his lead, although by the start of the final lap it was down to just 2.97 seconds. A few miles later Dunlop took the lead, something that had an air of inevitability about it.
Taking the lead and passing John McGuinness on the last lap, the 2013 TT is all going Michael Dunlop's way and sure enough he took his third win of the week and even set a new Superstock lap record in the process. A great ride by Johnson saw him finish second after a small oil leak made him ease off while McGuinness took third. With two races left to go, could Dunlop do a 'Hutchinson' and make it a full set? You have to favour him in the Senior on his form, but brother William may mess up the party in Supersport race two.
1. Michael Dunlop (Honda TT Legends)
2. Gary Johnson (Lincs Lifting Co/Kawasaki)
3. John McGuinness (HM Plant Honda by Padgetts Racing)
4. Dean Harrison (RC Express Racing with MSS Performance/Kawasaki)
5. Bruce Anstey (HM Plant Honda by Padgetts Racing)