Latest news with #MilwaukeeDucatiPanigaleV2
Belfast Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop seals top spot in qualifying to boost hopes of Supersport glory at Southern 100
Dunlop improved from 15th on Monday to seal the top spot on the Milwaukee Ducati Panigale V2. The Ballymoney rider jumped up the leaderboard after limited laps in Monday's practice session, which was halted by a red flag crash involving French rider Yann Galli. In an update on Tuesday, the Southern 100 organisers said Galli had been transferred to a hospital in the UK and described his condition as 'comfortable and stable'. Racing was due to get under way on Tuesday night around the 4.25-mile Billown course, but the first Senior race for Superbikes did not go ahead after some riders, including Dunlop and Michael Sweeney, signalled that conditions were unsuitable after completing their sighting lap. Rain showers and fading light after qualifying ended ultimately wiped out the planned two-race schedule. The Superbike machines were ushered back into the paddock and Clerk of the Course Giles Olley said he had taken on board the views of three senior riders, who had been selected to give their feedback. The less powerful Supertwin machines were given the green light to race shortly before 9.00pm, but the red flag came out after the opening lap when rain began to fall. Rob Hodson was leading at the time on the SMT Racing Paton from Davey Todd (Milenco by Padgett's Paton) at the time of the stoppage. Earlier, Dunlop lapped at 110.243mph in Supersport qualifying to secure pole by just over half a second on his Ducati from Todd (Milenco by Padgett's Honda). Cork's Mike Browne was third fastest on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha followed by Ulsterman Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda). In the Superbike qualifying session, Todd picked up where he left off on Monday, leading the way on the 8TEN Racing BMW at 115.644mph. Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) was around half a second in arrears in second place after lapping at 115.159mph, while Manx rider Nathan Harrison maintained his impressive form on the H&H Motorcycles Honda to go third fastest (114.634mph). Dunlop was fourth on his MD Racing BMW with a speed of 112.908mph. Todd, who is the reigning Solo champion at the event following a hard-earned win over Dunlop in 2024, said there was more to come from his BMW. 'I'm happy enough and I was just trying to navigate traffic and get a couple of laps in early before we hit traffic,' Todd said. 'The bike is working well and the team is doing a great job but we're missing a sprocket, so the gearing is wrong, but the bike's working alright and it will be even better when we get the sprocket we need." Wigan's Hodson was fastest in the Supertwin session at 104.957mph from Todd (104.781mph), with Jordan – who won his maiden race at the North West 200 in the Supertwin class in May – third on the Jackson Racing Aprilia. Practice and qualifying has now been completed at the Southern 100 with racing scheduled to commence on Wednesday evening when the first Superbike, Supersport, Supertwin and Sidecar races are on the programme. The meeting concludes on Thursday with a packed day of racing in the morning and afternoon, including the blue-riband Solo Championship race.
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
‘It's so nice to win here again': Michael Dunlop toasts ending long wait for North West success
Dunlop came off his BMW machine earlier in the day during Superstock qualifying at Magherabuoy chicane, high-siding after the exit. The 36-year-old was feeling the effects but it didn't stop Dunlop from racing to a stunning win on his Milwaukee Ducati Panigale V2 from English duo Richard Cooper and Davey Todd. The delighted home favourite shattered the lap record on his final lap as he won by 0.376s from Cooper. 'It's nice to win in Northern Ireland again at international level,' said Dunlop. 'We were struggling a little bit but the boys did a fantastic job and we got it done. There's still a bit to do. 'I was sore and I was thinking, 'should I be here?', but I thought it was time to keep going. 'It was about being in the right place at the right time. I've been mugged here before and I got my finger out. 'The slipstream is beautiful here so we kept pushing on.' In a breathless race, it was Cooper and Todd, who shared a win apiece in last year's Supersport races, who swapped places at the front, with Dunlop having to find his way past Peter Hickman (Trooper/PHR Performance Triumph) and Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK). On the third lap of four, Dunlop was now into third and looking menacing on the Italian machine. Nottingham's Cooper was still ahead on the run to Mather's, with Dunlop giving chase as he moved through to second. The record 29-time Isle of Man TT winner then rocketed past Cooper's Yamaha on the approach to Magherabuoy chicane and from there the result never looked in doubt. Dunlop smashed the lap record with a speed of 118.65mph on the final lap and crossed the line to a huge cheer, ending a long wait for victory at the biggest road race in Northern Ireland. Runner-up Cooper said: 'I could hear the big Ducati at the roundabout and a few other places so I knew he was there, but I wasn't quite prepared for the speed it passed me into the Magherabuoy chicane. 'He rode fantastic and took advantage of the last lap.' Cooper paid tribute to English rider Owen Jenner and Shane Richardson from New Zealand, who died in an 11-rider pile-up at the Oulton Park British Superbike meeting on Bank Holiday Monday. 'I really need to mention the boys who passed away at the weekend, particularly Shane Richardson,' he said tearfully. 'I worked with him.' Todd was only a few tenths further behind Cooper in third and one second up on Harrison. 'It's not what I wanted,' Todd said. 'I fought for the win and gave it everything I had. 'I tried my best but it's hard against some of those bikes. When that Ducati came past I couldn't even get in the slipstream.' Hickman and Jamie Coward (KTS/Macadam Triumph) rounded out the top six positions. Alastair Seeley, a record 13-time winner in the Supersport class, was ninth on the CD Racing/MSS Kawasaki behind Mike Browne (BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha) and Adam McLean (PRA Yamaha) in seventh and eighth respectively.
