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Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop takes Supertwin glory to increase Isle of Man TT tally to 31: ‘I still want to improve'
Dunlop has been the man to beat in the class in recent years and he followed up his double in 2024 with another comfortable win on the Italian Paton S1-R, coming home over 22 seconds ahead of Manxman Michael Evans (Dafabet Racing Kawasaki), who was celebrating his first TT podium on his birthday. Dunlop's latest victory – his second of race week after he won Monday's opening Supersport race – was a record 48th podium for the Ballymoney man. Wigan's Rob Hodson was also celebrating his first TT podium as he finished third on the SMT Racing Paton, 13 seconds behind runner-up Evans. Dunlop said: 'I felt good and just got bedded into it, and I thought it was Michael [Evans]. I was up 10 seconds on him and I assumed that's who it was. 'Obviously this job here is just a nursing match and the bike wasn't overly strong today for some reason – that's not being rude to the lads – the bike was good, but it just lacked a wee bit and Michael kept trying to pass me. 'I think he realised there was no point because I'd jam it back in again! 'Thanks to the Paton lads again and it's 31 wins now, and I'd like to thank them and I appreciate all the work they do for me. 'My Italian's not great and my English is even worse, but I've a great working relationship and I've a lot of time for the boys and we'll sit down tonight, improve and keep going. I'm happy, everything's good.' Reflecting on yet another win around the legendary 37.73-mile Mountain Course, Dunlop said he was feeling good with two wins from four races so far. 'It's nice, 31 wins, and the week's been good,' he added. 'We've had ups and downs, ins and outs, and everything else for that matter, but that's the TT and I'm sitting with two wins this week already. 'Folk come here hunting for wins and I've got two, so just keep pushing and I'm happy riding, so I'm good.' Last year, the 36-year-old surpassed his uncle Joey's record of 26 wins, which had stood since 2000. Dunlop won four races 12 months ago for the second consecutive year and is already on course to repeat the feat. He will have another strong chance in Wednesday's second Supersport race, which is scheduled for 10:45am. The second Sidecar race is also set to take place at 2pm. Tuesday's race schedule was switched to an evening contingency plan after heavy rain and high winds on Monday night left roads wet in places and deemed unsuitable for racing in the afternoon following an inspection lap. North West 200 Supertwin race winner Paul Jordan narrowly missed out on a podium last night on the Jackson Racing Aprilia by only 1.757s to Hodson. Davey Todd, Monday's Superbike winner, was fifth on the Milenco by Padgett's Racing Paton with Dominic Herbertson completing the top six on the Melbray Racing Paton ahead of Ulsterman Adam McLean (Flitwick Yamaha). A second Supertwin race is due to be held on Friday, when Dunlop will be the favourite for honours once more.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Davey Todd fends off Michael Dunlop to win delayed Isle of Man TT Superbike race: ‘It was pretty special'
Todd was pushed hard by Dunlop (ROKiT BMW) but held on to win by just under 1.3s after four laps in the first race of the 2025 Isle of Man TT, which was delayed from a planned 10:45am start until 12 noon due to oils spills on the Mountain section and from Bray Hill to Quarterbridge. The 29-year-old was seven seconds up after two laps but a slower pitstop than Dunlop cost him around six seconds. Dunlop began to slash the deficit and was only 0.269s behind at Glen Helen on the final lap, but the Northern Ireland rider lost some ground when he caught Honda Racing's Dean Harrison on the road and also struggled with rear tyre problems. Dunlop still recorded the fastest lap of the race at 135.416mph on the last lap, marginally quicker than Todd's 135.327mph effort. It wasn't enough, though, as Todd held on for his third career victory at the TT, with Harrison taking third, 43.5s further back on Dunlop. 'It's pretty special,' Todd said. 'I don't think there's many guys who can say they've done that. 'I can't take the credit, though, for being team owner. It's the rest of the team who had done the hard miles, and Pete [Peter Hickman] included. 'Pete's worked his butt off to make this happen and I'm gutted for him and I can't wait till he's healed up and back battling with me.' Hickman was ruled out of the TT after crashing in qualifying at Kerrowmoar on Friday evening. Runner-up Dunlop said: 'It was hard. I was really down on the first lap and then started to claw my way back again. 'Then on the last lap I felt good, but I caught Dean at the wrong place and just started dropping seconds. 'Then we blew a hole in the tyre, the tyre's destroyed, so we lost all grip, which is highly disappointing because I knew on the last lap we could have a bit of a second breath and have another go. 'But it's just the way it is. I'm not sure what we can do to cure the issue we've now got. 'We now need to get to change that balance again for Saturday, but the lack of track time hasn't helped.' Manxman Nathan Harrison finished fourth on the H&H Motorcycles Honda ahead of David Johnson (Platinum Club Kawasaki) and James Hillier (Muc-Off Honda), with 23-time winner John McGuinness (Honda Racing) in seventh. Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing Honda) was eighth, with team-mate Paul Jordan 10th behind Michael Evans. Conor Cummins retired on the Burrows/RK Racing BMW and Banbridge man Shaun Anderson crashed out at Joey's on the Mountain, escaping serious injury.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT 2025: Ferry passenger numbers up as bike bookings drop
Passenger numbers on Steam Packet ferry sailings for this year's TT are up on last year but the number of motorbike bookings have fallen, the company's chief executive has said. Brian Thomson said 2025 bookings were about 4.5% up from 2024, when more than 37,800 passengers booked to travel to the island during the can arrive on the island via flights to the Isle of Man Airport or on ferries from Lancashire, Liverpool, Dublin and the numbers of bike bookings were down, Mr Thomson said he believed "more people are bringing their bikes in vans and on trailers", noting those vehicle bookings had risen. About 40,000 people were expected to arrive by boat throughout the TT fortnight, which runs from 26 May until 7 the final figure surpasses the 2024 total, it would become the third year in a row that figures surpass a previous high recorded in 2007, when 47,000 visited. While the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, the firm has since "seen increased passenger numbers every year", Mr Thomson said, adding that the Manxman had enabled that with its increased is the second year the vessel has been operational for the event, with an extra 400 passenger spaces available than its predecessor the Ben my Chree, which is currently running freight Thomson said: "The pressure on freight is huge because everything that's coming for TT, all the equipment, the fairground, the TT village, all of that's come on the boat, and keeping the island supplied."Staffing is increased over the two weeks and extra sailings are fitted into the daily schedule, Mr Thomson explained. At the Isle of Man Airport passenger numbers have remained level at about 60,000 over the two-week period. Interim airport director Geoff Pugh said that figure, while consistent with last year's numbers, is about 19% lower than pre-pandemic levels in said: "We're still some way off the numbers back in 2019, but that's the same throughout the year as well, not just the TT."Two scanners are being replaced in the security area, upgrading them to meet standards set by the UK's Department for Transport. While one machine has now been upgraded, work has been paused during the TT fortnight with the second machine until after racing ends. Also, after the event has finished, new flooring will be fitted, walls painted and new seating installed in the departure lounge as part of ongoing refurbishment works. Mr Pugh said they were trying to make the airport "a welcoming place" and a motorsport display had been placed outside the departure lounge for the races."People will come through the airport and get their first taste of the motorsport vibe," he said. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Belfast Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Davey Todd content at Isle of Man TT as Dean Harrison sets a blistering pace
The Honda Racing UK rider came flying out of the blocks with a speed of 130.897mph from a standing start before upping the ante on his second lap to 133.069mph (17 mins 00.733 secs). Harrison, who now lives in Laxey on the island, was 15 seconds up on Peter Hickman (8TEN Racing BMW), who managed 131.076mph after completing three laps on his Superbike machine. Hickman's team-mate Davey Todd slotted into third on the leaderboard on Wednesday night (130.402mph). The 29-year-old did one lap on his Superbike and was more than satisfied after missing the Superbike and Superstock session on Tuesday. 'That's alright,' said Todd, who was stranded at Ginger Hall on Tuesday evening after an issue with the Padgett's Honda Supersport machine. 'Not bad for the first spin on the big bike, and I was gutted to miss the session last night. 'We've some work to do, some improvements to make, but it's a good start. 'There are areas to improve, a bit of stability, but that's not bad to start with.' Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop did a standing start lap on his ROKiT BMW Superbike at 129.975mph to go fourth ahead of Manxman Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda), who clocked 128.825mph after two laps. Northern Ireland's Shaun Anderson was next on the Team Classic Suzuki (128.14mph). Todd did two laps on his Superstock machine and led the times at 131.231mph, with Harrison (131.098mph) and Dunlop (130.387mph) second and third respectively after their standing start laps. Paul Jordan from Magherafelt was an impressive fifth on the Jackson Racing Honda by Prosper2 machine at 128.055mph behind Dominic Herbertson (129.257mph), with Conor Cummins sixth on the Burrows/RK Racing BMW (128.041mph). Skerries man Michael Sweeney, who was 17th in the Superstock standings on his MJR BMW, said conditions were much improved compared to Tuesday evening. 'It's very windy out there from the start to Ballacraine and up on the mountain,' said Sweeney. 'But conditions are a lot better than last night and we can deal with the wind compared to the damp. 'We've a few issues, but we're going in the right direction and we're on the right way.' Dunlop, the all-time TT record holder with 29 victories, topped the Supersport times at 127.181mph on his Ducati Panigale V2. The 36-year-old was 6.3 seconds ahead of Harrison (126.436mph), with James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki) and Todd (Padgett's Honda) third and fourth respectively. Hickman was fifth fastest on his Triumph 765 machine with a lap of 124.085mph from a standing start. Wigan's Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Paton) was quickest in Supertwin qualifying, setting the best speed at 119.521mph after doing two laps on the Italian machine. Hodson was 4.3 seconds up on Dunlop (MD Racing Paton), who lapped at 119.068mph from a standing start. Manxman Michael Evans was next in the standings on his Dafabet Racing Kawasaki (118.646mph). In the Sidecars, Ryan and Callum Crowe, who won both races in 2024, took the top spot on their Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda) with a lap of 118.797mph from Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley (AWB Engineering Honda), who recorded a speed of 115.37mph. The Sidecar session was restricted to one lap as the weather began to close in on Wednesday night. Rain was expected overnight on the Isle of Man with more wet weather in today's forecast, which could have an impact on Thursday evening's planned second qualifying session, which is scheduled to begin at 6.30pm.
ITV News
28-05-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Isle of Man TT rider Nathan Harrison talks preparing for racing while managing family business
TT rider Nathan Harrison takes ITV Granada Reports' Isle of Man reporter Joshua Stokes onto the TT course For many people, the Isle of Man lies dormant for the majority of the year feeling like a distant lump of rock, waiting patiently for that annual influx of tourists in May. But for TT rider Nathan Harrison, the island is much more than a race course. While many competitors travel back to their respective homes at the end of the festival, the local Manxman travels mere minutes to settle back into island life. A lifestyle that sees him balance competing as a professional racer, while helping to manage the family business H&H Motorcycles in Douglas. Nathan said: "It's the perfect shopfront window for us, as we're able to showcase what we have on the island, and we're showing that the bikes are being prepared in our workshop and then out on the TT course." However, he still believes racing the motorbikes is "the best feeling in the world", that cannot be compared to running the business. Nathan has lived on the island his whole life, born into a family with road racing at its heart - his father, Dean Harrison, has previously competed in the TT, as well as his brother Glenn Harrison. Both work as part of Nathan's racing team, working to make sure the bike is as fast as it can be, but also crucially as safe as it can be. Dean said: "Obviously when he's out there, it's a worry you know, it's a worry for any parent. "The worst thing you can have on your wrist is an Apple Watch because it obviously clocks your heart rate, but we do it because we love it, and as my late wife said he could be down on Douglas Promenade full of drink and drugs, but he's fully committed to the job. "He doesn't drink, he trains like hell, and with that we put as much into him as we can." The 26-year-old first competed at the Isle of Man TT in 2022, and took 7th place in the Senior race in 2024. A strong trajectory, which Nathan says is helped by living on the island, helping to familiarise himself with the 37 and three quarter-mile course. He said: "If it's a nice night, I'll just go for a lap round and just see what's changed because year-to-year you have different road surfaces - trees come down in the storms - there's so many variables that change." Nathan's current record sees him setting an average speed of 129.1mph around the Mountain Course. A statistic he's hoping to build on during race week on the island, proudly watched on by a family of racers.
