Michael Dunlop Rewrites Record Books with Supertwin Victory
In a remarkable display of skill and speed, Michael Dunlop has rewritten the record books in 2023, securing a hard-fought victory in the Supertwin class on Tuesday to move into second spot on the all-time winners list. This triumph marks a significant milestone in the road racing news, as reported on Wednesday.
Dunlop’s Dominance Continues
Dunlop’s dominance continued on Wednesday, as he took the top spot in the first Supersport race, beating rival Peter Hickman by an impressive 9.6 seconds. The MD Racing rider made history by posting the first-ever 130mph lap for the class, a feat that has left the road racing community abuzz.
With this win, Dunlop is now just one victory shy of matching the all-time record tally of 26 set by his legendary late uncle Joey Dunlop. The Manxman’s impressive performance has sent shockwaves through the road racing news, cementing his position as one of the sport’s top contenders.
Lap-by-Lap Breakdown
Dunlop took the early lead on corrected time through Glen Helen on lap one, edging out Dean Harrison on the Russell Racing Yamaha by a mere 0.113 seconds. As the race unfolded, Harrison struggled to keep pace, eventually falling 2.6 seconds behind Dunlop at Ballaugh.
Meanwhile, Peter Hickman on his Trooper Triumph began to close in on Harrison, eventually surpassing him to take second place. Despite Hickman’s efforts, Dunlop’s lead continued to grow, and he entered the pitstop phase with a comfortable 11.6-second advantage.
After the pitstops, Dunlop’s lead stood at 11.8 seconds over Hickman, with Harrison a further 11.4 seconds adrift. However, Hickman began to chip away at Dunlop’s lead, reducing the gap to 7. As the final lap approached, Dunlop’s advantage had dwindled to just 7.7 seconds.
Unbeatable Performance
Undeterred, Dunlop dug deep, pushing himself to record a blistering 130.403mph lap, which would ultimately prove unbeatable. Hickman, too, broke the 130mph barrier, posting a 130.219mph lap, but it was not enough to reel in Dunlop.
In the end, Dunlop took the win by 9.617 seconds, with Hickman securing second place and Harrison completing the podium. The top five was rounded out by Davey Todd on the Padgetts Honda and Jamie Coward on his KTS Racing Yamaha.
Notable Absence
In a notable absence, Manxman Conor Cummins was forced to withdraw from Wednesday’s racing due to illness, which had plagued him for much of the week.
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