Hillier scores lightning Lightweight win
Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s James Hillier scored a lightning quick win in the BikeSocial.co.uk Lightweight TT on Friday.
The three lap race saw some close racing in the early phases before Hillier was able to take control and pull out a gap of over 30 seconds from second place Dean Harrison at the finish.
Harrison in turn held a 35 seconds advantage over Conor Cummins who beat Ivan Lintin to the third spot.
The three lap race included a compulsory pitstop which led to differing strategies as to whether to pit at the end of the first or second laps. Hillier, Harrison and Cummins all took their stop after the first circuit while Lintin chose to take his after the second.
The first lap stop strategy seemed to pay off as Hillier carved through the field establishing a new class lap record on the last lap of 119.129 mph - nearly four miles an hour up on Michael Rutter’s record from 2012.
All three of Hillier’s race laps was in excess of 116 mph a feat aided by the exceptionally good road conditions.
Jamie Hamilton took fifth place and last year’s winner Michael Rutter came home in sixth.