The racing at TT 2024 opened in spectacular fashion with Michael Dunlop joining his uncle; the great Joey; on 26 TT wins. He did so by continuing his mastery of the Supersport Class; riding a superb race, to win by 8.574s from Davey Todd. Later we witnessed another TT record being created as Ryan and Callum Crowe led from start to finish to win Sidecar Race1; in doing so joining their father Nick (5 wins) on the winners’ Roll of Honour.
The Supersport Race 1 was excellent with close racing throughout the field. To win, Michael had to come from behind. Dean Harrison (Honda) was best on the first run to Glen Helen; leading by a tiny 0.08s margin from Davey Todd on the untried Ducati. Dunlop was 3rd: James Hillier (Kawasaki), James Hind (Suzuki) and Mikey Evans (Triumph) completed the top 6. Todd had edged in front by 0.257s from Harrison at Ballaugh. In Ramsey; one mile down the road from our vantage point of Tower Bends; Harrison had reclaimed the lead. Then, the small gathering of spectators looked towards Waterworks from where Jamie Coward (Triumph) emerged with Paul Jordan (Honda) close behind. They swept through Tower Bends in fine style; tight to the inside bank on the right hander; then powering away close to the wall on the exit. Harrison was next; then Hillier, Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson (Honda) and Todd. Harrison led from Todd and Dunlop; just 1.9s covering them. The rapid action kept the crowd enthralled; with none of the riders having a moment. Harrison kept his nose in front on the mountain climb and with a lap at 128.037mph led by 1.979s from Todd on the gorgeous Ducati Panigale; his lap speed was 127.798mph. Dunlop (Yamaha) was 1.203s down on Todd. Coward, Hillier and Hind completed the top 6.
Harrison led at Glen Helen on lap 2; but Dunlop had edged past Todd; just 1.9s covered them. Coward, Hillier and Hind were 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. Dunlop was on the move; he led by 0.531s at Ballaugh Bridge. Dunlop had a lead of 2s as the riders charged past us lap 2; but it was from Todd; with Harrison 0.4s further back. They were pulling away from Coward, Hillier and Hind. Peter Hickman held 7th on a Triumph that would not rev out in 5th or 6th gear due to a mapping issue, Dunlop’s lap at 128.833mph saw him enter the pits with a lead of 4.6s; however, he lost 1.6s of that as Todd’s crew produced a fast refuelling routine. Harrison remained third; behind the gaps were widening; Coward; Hillier and Hind completed our top 6.
Dunlop regained the time lost in the pits and more to lead by 5.54s at Glen Helen on lap 3. Harrison was now over 3s down on Todd. Coward suffered machine failure; allowing Paul Jordan to take 6th on the leaderboard. With a sector best time; Todd pulled back1s on the run to Ballaugh. Todd was fastest through to the Bungalow where the lead was 3.9s. Harrison was not able to match the top 2 and was now over 10s behind Todd. Hillier, Hind and Jordan continued to fill out the top 6.
At Glen Helen on the final lap the lead for Dunlop was up to 6.875s after he set the best sector time of the race. Todd was fastest on the run to Ballaugh; but Dunlop took the time back on the run into Ramsey. The action continued to be excellent at Tower Bends; where Dunlop led by 7.1s as he charged up the mountain. Harrison was now 20s down on Todd; but in a safe 3rd; 33s ahead of Hillier. Hind was 5th; Jordan 6th; but being closed down by Mike Browne and Josh Brookes. There was no drama on the mountain climb; surely Michael was going to equal the record of the great Joey Dunlop and take his 26th TT victory. Michael was fastest down the mountain; he set the fastest lap of the race at 129.214mph to win by 8.574s from Todd; who set the best ever lap of the course by a Ducati rider with a speed of 128.875mph. The data from this race will help Todd’s crew as they attempt to turn the untried Panigale into a TT race winning machine. In Race 2 Michael may need to top 130mph; as he did last year. Dean Harrison completed the podium trio; his last lap being at 127.562mph. Hillier took a fine 4th; Hind secured 5th with Brookes 6th; both lapped at over 126mph; as did Mike Browne in 8th. Best local rider was Mikey Evans in 10th; he lapped at 126.113mph on the last lap; an excellent performance in his first TT on the Triumph.
After the seemingly mandatory delay, the Sidecar Race began in lovely early evening sunshine. Peter Founds / Jevan Walmsley on the FHO Honda were the hare for the others to chase. Next away were the fastest pair in practice; Ryan and Callum Crowe on their Kelproperties Honda. Hopes for the first local win since Dave Molyneux / Dan Sayle in 2016 were bolstered when the timing at Glen Helen showed that the Crowe brothers had eaten away 6.3s from the starting interval to Founds / Walmsley. Lee Crawford / Scott Hardie were third on the ARC Kawasaki; 4.5s down on Pete Founds and just 0.2s ahead of Lewis Blackstock / Patrick Rosney (Dave Holden Yamaha). Alan Founds and debutant passenger, his nephew, Rhys Gibbons were 5th, Tim Reeves / Mark Wilkes (Bonovo Yamaha) 6th; just 1s covered 4th to 6th. Dave Molyneux’s ill luck continued; he and Jake Roberts forced to park the outfit at Ballacraine.
At Ballaugh, the Crowe brothers were on the tail of Pete Founds and soon used their better top speed to good effect. Once behind, Founds used the slipstream to hang to the coattails of the Crowes. Coming into Parliament Square, Founds braked later and was briefly ahead; however, he had to run wide, and the Crowe brothers retook the lead. It was great sight at Tower Bends as the two crews swept through the S-bend just a metre apart; the speed amazing for a 600cc machine with two men to carry. Their lead was 0.1s as they headed for the Gooseneck. Blackstock / Rosney were up to third; 2.2s ahead of Founds / Gibbons.
A lap at 118.525mph gave the Crowe brothers a lead of 12.2s over Founds / Walmsley as they went flat out along Glencrutchery Road. Blackstock / Rosney remained in third; but just 3.2s covered 4th to 6th. On their first lap, World Champions Todd / Emmanuelle Clement lapped at 113.006mph in 7th; this made Emmanuelle the fastest lady passenger of all time.
The lead had been extended to 17s at Glen Helen; 25.15s at Ramsey as they began the mountain climb. A lap at 119.800mph gave the Crowe brothers a lead of 30.27s from Founds / Walmsley (117.786mph); they in turn had an advantage over Founds / Gibbons whose lap at 115.984mph made Rhys Gibbons the fastest newcomer in history. Behind them; Ellis / Clement raised their lap speed to 113.786mph; amazing after so little practice.
In the final lap the Crowe brothers eased their pace to save the motor; their lap at 117.580mph gave them victory by 26.894s from Founds / Walmsley. The winning race average was 118.628mph. Alan Founds / Rhys Gibbons took third; Founds supposedly easing Gibbons into his role. Blackstock / Rosney took 4th; the returning Crawford / Hardie pairing took 5th; Reeves / Wilkes were 6th. A fine debut saw Ellis / Clement finish 7th.
This day’s racing may never be beaten for the sheer emotion of it. The Superbike Race is next on the menu.
Pete Founds and Jevan Walmsley