Isle of Man TT Daily Update - 5 June 2024

Supertwin Race 1

The rescheduled Isle of Man Supertwin Race 1 saw Michael Dunlop secure a record breaking 27th IoM TT win today, Wednesday 5th June 2024. The date will go down in history as this win for Michael Dunlop takes him one place clear of his uncle Joey Dunlop in the all time winners list at the IoM TT.

Leading from start to finish in the 3 lap 113.22 mile race there was no pit lane drama like we saw in Saturdays Superbike race. Dunlop on the twin cylinder Paton S1 R had a comfortable 20 second lead over Peter Hickman in second place when the checkered flag came out. Hickman riding the stunning looking Swan Racing Yamaha R7, was down on top speed on the Patons during qualifying and it showed in the race, about 5mph slower than Dunlop.

Hickmans Yamaha R7 might be slower at the top end but can be hustled round the 37.7 mile course nearly as quickly as a Paton. Hickmans average lap time 119.975mph compares well to Dunlops of 120.700mph however, Dunlops top speed was 162.214mph which gave him a slight edge over Hickman at 158.273mph .

The redeeming factor of the Yamaha R7 is its reliability, the Patons are highly strung and can break down, but not today. The gods of motorcycle engineering smiled on the now undisputed GOAT of road racing for Michael Dunlop to take a legendary win and stand alone at the top of the all time winners list. 

I for one will remember this race for one other reason, the rider who came in third, Dominic Herbertson in his 45th start at the TT. Dom the Bomb has been the focus of my camera a lot, not just at road racing but club and classic events, so I was very pleased to see him on an IoM TT podium. Dom has put a shift in over the years to get a coveted laurel wreath and I’m sure there will be more to come.

The crop of up and coming riders is encouraging for the future of the IoM TT and road racing in general, #8 Davey Todd this year has been excellent on the Milwaukee BMW Motorrad BMW M1000 RR in the Super and Stock class, he was sixth today on the Kawasaki Ninja 650 Dafabet Racing. New faces standing on the podium can only be a good thing, but I think its going to be a few years before the “new” riders are consistently pushing the recognised top riders of Dunlop, Hickman and Harrison down the finishing order. 

Unsung Heroes

Michael Russell racing in the Supertwin on the Fraser Evans Tyre Recycling Aprilia RS 660 finished his second race of his ten race challenge in 17th place. The sidecar has had its regulator / rectifier changed and is now fixed, Jack and Vicky Cooke took it for a test prior to the Supertwin race. Jack will have to wait to add another bronze replica to his ever growing collection as the scheduled Superstock race was postponed due to rain around the track. 

Craig Szczypek Yamaha R7 Manor Flooring / Oxman Carpentry came in 33rd place with a best average lap of 105.550mph to claim another finishers medal.

Matt Stevenson wasn’t out in the Supertwin race but did get out for a few laps in the warm up where he did have a few problems. Lets hope they are all sorted for the next race. Matts aim this week is a race 126mph lap and to finish in the top 20 in all races, which he is on course to do.

A special mention must go to Veronika Hankocyova for completing her first TT race on the Wonder Women Racing Team / Buldoci Aprilia RS 660.