Latest news with #DucatiPanigaleV2
Belfast Telegraph
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Mike Browne proud to claim Supersport victory at Armoy Road Races, while Paul Jordan savours Supertwin success
The Cork man claimed pole on Alistair Russell's R6 and Browne made a winning start to the weekend, leading every lap and pulling away from the chasing pack to win by over six seconds. He set the fastest lap of the race at 104.074mph to secure the win comfortably after seven laps of the three-mile course in County Antrim by 6.39 secs from Michael Sweeney (EM Building Yamaha), who had to work hard to fend off Northern Ireland's Paul Jordan on the Jackson Racing Honda by Prosper2 Honda for the runner-up spot. Sweeney and Jordan were locked in battle throughout the seven-lap race, but Jordan was unable to make a decisive pass as the experienced Skerries man defended his lines. They were clear of Manx racer Conor Cummins, who finished fourth on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Ducati Panigale V2. Browne, who was a Supersport winner at the Southern 100 at the Billown course a few weeks previously, said: 'I wouldn't say I dominated from the start. 'There was a few spits of rain there and we took our time for two laps, and there was a bit of a wet patch down into Church, so I had a look at that. 'I looked back and was surprised I had a little bit of a gap, so I tried to keep that and I wanted to try and keep a bit of room in case we came across some backmarkers towards the end of the race. 'I had a good, clear run, so I'm happy. It's good for the team to get a win.' Sweeney said he expected Jordan to be a threat in the race based on his lap times in qualifying. 'I could hear him at every turn and my board was saying +0, so I knew I wouldn't get away and I knew from the qualifying times that he had the pace,' he said. 'I was a little bit off it this morning, but I ran a couple of laps with Mike (Browne) at the front and then he just pulled the pin and got away. 'Then I had to defend against Paul (Jordan) at every turn and I knew he would try and get the drive on me up to the line.' Jamie Coward (KTS Macadam Racing Triumph) and eye-catching newcomer Franco Bourne (Cowton Racing Kawasaki) were the top six. Jordan won the earlier Supertwin race and established a new lap record for the class at 100.694mph. The Magherafelt man had to fight his way through from fourth after a sluggish start, but once he overhauled Sweeney (MSR Aprilia), he was able to make a break for it. Jordan won by 5.58 secs on the Jackson Racing by Prosper2 Aprilia from Sweeney, with the Isle of Man's Joe Yeardsley in third on the Scott Racing Aprilia. 'It was just the usual Paul Jordan start and that was it,' Jordan said. 'To be fair, after the practice we had this morning, I knew I had a bit of pace and I knew not to panic. 'So, I just bided my time and, once I got to the front, I just kept on banging out the laps, and I felt I was going a lot slower than I was this morning. 'The bike is probably the best bike I've rode.' Coward retired on the KTS Racing Kawasaki, with Barry Furber (DC Autos Yamaha) taking fourth. Joey Thompson (TH Racing Aprilia) and Marcus Simpson (LMR Kawasaki) completed the top half-dozen. Roads close on Saturday for practice from 9.00am, with 12 races scheduled. The prestigious Race of Legends is the headline event and a new winner will be crowned in the absence of Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd.
Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop ‘happy enough' after practice as second washout averted at Isle of Man TT
Only the newcomers completed a lap on Monday before the rest of the schedule was called off due to wet weather. There was a question mark over Tuesday's practice with more rain in the forecast, but although there were heavy showers earlier in the day, the weather improved and roads began to dry out. The Sidecar competitors went out first shortly after 6.30pm before it was the turn of the solo riders, who left the line on Glencrutchery Road in bright sunshine. A full schedule was run, albeit practice was untimed with riders warned of damp patches at various parts of the course. Michael Dunlop, who made history last year after taking over from his uncle Joey as the most successful TT rider ever, went out first on his Paton Supertwin machine and did one lap of the 37.73-mile course before jumping onto his new Ducati Panigale V2. The Ballymoney man did two laps on the Italian machine before switching to his BMW Superbike towards the end of the session. Dunlop's long-time sponsor Gary Ryan, speaking after Dunlop did his first lap of the 2025 event on the Paton Supertwin, said: 'He was happy enough, but he wouldn't say a big pile after the first lap and we'll see what he says after this. 'But it's great to get out because we're here since Friday and it seems like a week ago now at this stage.' Dunlop is on the brink of a milestone 30th victory after his four wins in 2024 moved him onto 29 wins, three more than Joey's famous tally of 26 which had stood since 2000. Tuesday night's session was a chance for riders to ease themselves into the groove after a year away from the TT and with less pressure, with all sessions being held as free practice. Lincolnshire's Gary Johnson, a two-time TT winner in the Supersport class, made his comeback after injury. Johnson was caught up in an accident in the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) which thwarted his plans to race at the TT in 2024. 'I expected to be back into fitness quite a bit sooner, but the operation wasn't quite a success and it's took a bit of time,' Johnson said. 'I was hoping to be back last year, but it just wasn't going to happen. 'It took more time to get prepared, mentally, physically and machinery-wise, and I'm so happy to be back – it's the best island in the world when it's like this. 'I'm nervous and you've got to be, and if you don't have that, then you're not the right man to be going around here. 'I'll have a look around and enjoy myself, and I'm hoping to come back with a big smile on my face and just enjoy it. 'I've got my own GSX-R750, which is something I bought a couple of years ago to test on because I was going to come here with the Astro Van team but, unfortunately, two weeks before, I smashed myself to pieces through no fault of my own. 'I've been working on it and I've had to change the electronics to the next generation, and I've had a nightmare because I don't have a factory team helping us, so it's trial and error. 'Over the year, it has come a lot better.' Practice is set to resume on Wednesday evening, with roads closed from 6.00pm. The weather forecast on Wednesday is favourable, with only a small risk of an odd shower.
Belfast Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop flew past me on North West 200's opening night… I must give my all to respond, says Davey Todd
Davey Todd and Richard Cooper had no answer when Michael Dunlop rocketed past them both on his way to victory in the first Supersport race on Thursday. Dunlop made his move on the final lap on his new Ducati Panigale V2 machine and once he powered into the lead, neither Cooper nor Todd could get close enough to strike back.
