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Dunlop tyres win races and break records

Tuesday 05 June 2018
TT
Peter Hickman goes for a Dunlop tyre change at the pitstop during the RL360º Superstock TT Race. Photo Stephen Davison / Pacemaker Press Intl.

- Michael Dunlop breaks Supersport lap record on his way to 17th TT win

- Peter Hickman sets Superstock lap record and claims first ever TT victory

- Road legal treaded tyres break lap and sector records

- Four Dunlop podium caps across both races

Dunlop continued its winning ways at the Isle of Man TT on Monday, with Michael Dunlop taking their road legal treaded tyres to victory in the opening Monster Energy Supersport TT race. Now a 17-time TT winner Michael also broke his own 2013 Supersport lap record, with a scintillating time of 17:31.328 netting a 129.197mph lap in the 600cc class.

Michael Dunlop with his Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1 winning Honda CBR600RR, shod in Dunlop road legal tyres. Photo Stephen Davison / Pacemaker Press Intl

Taking the lead on the opening lap, the MD Racing Honda rider extended his lead to five seconds before the round of pit stops, and crossed the line 20 seconds in front. Peter Hickman (Trooper Triumph by Smiths Racing) completed another Dunlop double, chasing down third place over the closing laps and passing James Hillier for the final podium spot on lap four.

The 2014 fastest TT rookie and five-time podium setter last year was happy with the pace and performance of his Dunlop tyres, electing not to change to new tyres at the halfway point, and still posted his fastest lap of the race on his final lap. Honda racer Lee Johnston brought his Padgetts Motorcycles Fireblade home in fifth, with his team-mate Conor Cummins sixth, and McAms Yamaha racer Josh Brookes seventh.

In the following RL360 Superstock TT, the treaded stock tyres then gave Hickman his first ever TT win. On his way to a popular maiden victory he stunned with a 134.403mph lap, just three tenths off the outright lap record set on slick racing tyres. With it he also set the fastest Superstock sector times on four different sectors, the Ramsey to Bungalow section the fastest ever time of 3:11.671.

Both Michael Dunlop and race winner Peter Hickman chose to use Dunlop tyres in the RL360º Superstock TT Race. Photo Stephen Davison / Pacemaker Intl


In a thrilling four-lap battle, the lead three changed positions numerous times and at one point were covered by just one second. Hickman came through to win, five seconds ahead of the Dunlop-shod MD Racing BMW of Michael Dunlop, to complete a good day for the Northern Irishman.

Another notable Dunlop finisher was David Johnson who secured a positive result for the Gulf BMW team to bring his bike home in fourth, while Honda Racing duo Ian Hutchinson and Lee Johnson unfortunately retired with technical issues.

David Johnson at Waterworks. Photo Dave Kneen / Pacemaker Press Intl.

Racing resumes on Wednesday 6 June, with the second Monster Energy Supersport TT scheduled to start at 10.45, the SES TT Zero at 12.45, Bennetts Lightweight TT at 14.10 and Senior TT qualifying at 16.10.

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