Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1545207
Harrison Wins Opening Superbike TT D ean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) delivered a commanding performance to win Sunday's (May 31) RST Superbike TT at the Isle of Man, leading every lap and securing his first Superbike TT victory. The win marked Har - rison's sixth TT triumph overall, placing him alongside legends Jimmy Guthrie, Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Jim Redman and Chas Birks on the all-time winners list. Harrison immediately took control of the six-lap race, open - ing a 4.8-second lead over Mi- chael Dunlop (MD Racing Honda) at Glen Helen on the opening lap, with Peter Hickman (Monster Energy BMW Motorrad by 8Ten Racing) close behind in third. By the end of lap one, Harrison's pace—highlighted by a race- fastest lap of 134.892 mph—had extended his lead to 12 seconds. Dunlop and Hickman spent much of the race locked in a battle for second, often sepa - rated by less than a second. Hickman briefly moved ahead in the middle stages before pit- stop strategies and shifting track positions had the pair continue to swap time advantages. At the front, however, Har - rison remained untouchable. He steadily increased his lead throughout the race, extending it to more than 30 seconds after four laps, even as Dunlop gained time during the first pit stop. A quicker final pit stop helped Hickman secure second place and gradually pull away from Dun - lop in the closing laps. Harrison eased slightly in the final stages but still crossed the line 15.5 seconds ahead of Hickman, who capped an impressive return from injury with second place. Dunlop completed the podium in third. Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) finished a comfortable fourth, ahead of John McGuin - ness (Honda Racing UK). Ian Hutchinson (Team RST BMW) narrowly beat Jamie Coward (Rapid Honda by DriveLife) for sixth. Nathan Harrison, Mike Browne and Paul Jordan com - pleted the top 10, with Jordan recording his first-ever 130 mph TT lap at 130.656 mph on the final circuit. Racing continues this week on the Isle of Man, with Tuesday, June 2, a bumper day that will see the rescheduled Superstock TT and the opening Supersport and Sportbike TTs all set to start. CN WIND IN THE P44 After dominating practice, Dean Harrison did likewise in the Superbike TT to take his first-ever win in the category. It was his sixth TT triumph.