Michael Dunlop tops final qualifying session with 132mph Superbike lap as focus turns to races

Belfast Telegraph

2 days ago

Dunlop will have two chances to achieve the milestone, with the first Supersport race also scheduled to take place on Monday afternoon after the organisers confirmed a three-race programme, with the opening Sidecar event sandwiched between the Superbike and Supersport races.
The Superbike race (10:45am) has been cut from six laps to four, with the Sidecar race over three laps pencilled in for 1:15pm, followed by the first Supersport race at 3pm (3 laps).
All three races were originally scheduled to run over the weekend, but adverse weather on the Isle of Man resulted in a series of delays and cancellations last week, with the organisers running more qualifying sessions on Saturday and Sunday to make up for lost time.
Dunlop set a record of 29 TT wins during a memorable week in 2024, surpassing his uncle Joey's 24-year-old lap record of 26 victories.
The Ballymoney man has been gradually getting up to speed on his new ROKiT BMW Superbike at the TT and recorded the fastest lap of Sunday's qualifying session – and his fastest overall so far this year – at 132.03mph.
Dunlop was leading the Superbike race last year by around 25 seconds until his lead was blown when he stopped to adjust an incorrectly fastened visor after his final pit stop.
He will be out to make amends, but Davey Todd (8TEN Racing BMW) and Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) provide formidable opposition.
Harrison set the fastest lap of TT qualifying overall at 133mph on his Superbike machine last Wednesday, while Todd also managed a 133mph lap, albeit on his Superstock machine.
Todd will be carrying the hopes of 8TEN Racing on his shoulders today after team-mate Peter Hickman was ruled out of the TT following his crash in qualifying on Friday.
Hickman came off at Kerrowmoar and sustained chest, back, shoulder and facial injuries.
The 14-time TT winner was yesterday discharged from hospital and posted an update on social media claiming he planned to return to the event in 2026.
'Well this isn't quite how I'd planned my TT to go!' Hickman said.
'Had a bit of a get off on Friday night… Nothing quite like a 140mph slap against the Manx countryside. Battered and bruised, but we'll be back.'
He added: 'A massive thanks to the amazing IOM TT marshals, the TT medical team, and staff at Noble's Hospital.'
Dunlop will be going for a seventh successive Supersport victory this afternoon as he bids to win on a Ducati for the first time.
He has made the switch from Yamaha machinery and won on the Italian Panigale V2 bike at the North West 200 last month.
In qualifying, he was second fastest with a 127.739mph lap on Friday behind British Supersport contender Harrison, whose 128.093mph lap was a qualifying record.
Todd is another leading contender on the Milenco by Padgett's Honda, while top-six challengers include the likes of Josh Brookes, James Hillier, James Hind, Paul Jordan and Ian Hutchinson.
On Sunday, the Sidecar session was stopped after a red flag crash involving leading competitors Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley at Rhencullen.
Both competitors were airlifted to hospital and a statement from the organisers said: 'Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley, sidecar outfit number 2, came off at Rhencullen during lap two of the fifth qualifying session of TT 2025.
'Peter is reported as conscious and talking, with arm injuries. Passenger, Jevan, is reported as conscious and talking, with no reported injuries. 'Both Peter and Jevan have been taken to Noble's Hospital by Airmed for further assessment.
'Further condition updates will be provided in due course.'
Manx crew Ryan and Callum Crowe are the Sidecar favourites after winning both races in 2024 and recording the fastest lap in qualifying at 119.37mph.
The weather is forecast to be dry and bright today, however a yellow warning for gales on the island comes into place tonight from 9pm, with heavy rain also expected overnight.