Michael Dunlop took his third victory of this year’s Classic TT as the Team Classic Suzuki rider won Tuesday morning’s Senior Classic TT race, finishing 11.68s ahead of Jamie Coward (Greenall Racing Kawasaki), with Coward’s team-mate Nathan Harrison completing the podium in third.
Conditions were perfect all around the Mountain Course and although Harrison was first to arrive at Glen Helen on the opening lap, it was Coward who led, albeit by just 0.2s from Dunlop, with Harrison only 0.7s further back in third.
Shaun Anderson (Stanford Racing by ARD Suzuki), Dominic Herbertson (TAS/Adam Hewitt Racing Kawasaki) and Michael Sweeney (Mistral Racing Kawasaki) completed the early top six, but Rob Hodson was out, the CK Racing Ducati rider retiring at Quarter Bridge. Mike Browne, third in Sunday’s Formula One race was also out having retired the Electric Van Company Kawasaki at Crosby.
Over Ballaugh Bridge for the first time and Coward doubled his advantage to 0.4s but Harrison had lost a bit of ground and he was now 2.4s adrift of Dunlop. Anderson was still fourth but Sweeney and his Mistral Racing Kawasaki team-mate Joe Yeardsley were now in fifth and sixth with Herbertson having retired at Orrisdale.
Dunlop had nosed ahead at Ramsey Hairpin by half a second and he’d doubled his advantage at the Bungalow where Yeardsley had nosed ahead of Sweeney for fifth.
Harrison was first to complete a lap at 126.096mph but a lap of 127.070mph gave Dunlop a lead of 1.8s over Coward, whose opening lap was 126.849mph.
Harrison was first to complete a lap at 126.096mph but with a lap of 127.070mph, Dunlop had a lead of 1.8s over Coward whose opening lap was 126.849mph. Anderson (124.888mph), Yeardsley (123.065mph) and Sweeney (122.996mph) completed the top six but Julian Trummer (TC Racing/DP Coldplaning Kawasaki), running strongly in the top ten again, retired at the pits.
Through Glen Helen on the second lap and Dunlop’s lead had moved out to 2.6s with Harrison losing further ground in third, 10.8s behind Coward, although he was comfortably clear of fourth placed Anderson. Yeardsley and Sweeney remained locked in battle though, just two and a half seconds between them.
Dunlop’s lead had extended further at Ballaugh to 3.4s and by Ramsey Hairpin for the second time it had increased again, the gap to Coward now standing at 4.8s as the riders made the Mountain climb prior to the solitary pit stop.
A second lap speed of 128.596mph, the fastest of the race, gave Dunlop a lead of seven seconds over Coward (127.970mph) with Harrison (127.155mph) now 13s behind in third. They were followed by Anderson (125.662mph), Sweeney (123.828mph) with Conor Cummins (123.983mph) now in sixth on the Steadplan Racing Kawasaki after overhauling Yeardsley over the Mountain.
Cummins’ bike refused to fire after the pit stop and, although the Manxman eventually got back underway, he dropped outside the top ten as Barry Furber, Paul Williams and Amalric Blanc, amongst others, overhauled him. Peter Hickman was also out of luck, and the 14-time Isle of Man TT race winner retired the Norton at the pits.
Onto Glen Helen on the third lap and Dunlop’s lead remained at seven seconds with the gap 7.4s at Ballaugh but it moved out to nine seconds at Ramsey Hairpin where Harrison was 21.4s adrift in third. Anderson was in a comfortable fourth but the battle for fifth continued to rage with Yeardsley back ahead of Sweeney whilst behind them, Furber’s strong ride ended in retirement.
Going into the final lap, Dunlop’s lead was up to 11.2s with the first four positions looking secure and, indeed, there was to be no drama on the fourth lap with a final lap speed of 128.031mph giving Dunlop his third victory of the meeting, 11.68s ahead of Coward (127.976mph) who repeated his second-place finish from Sunday’s Formula One race.
Harrison (126.765mph) completed the podium in third ahead of Anderson and in the race-long battle for fifth, it was Yeardsley who prevailed over Sweeney, the two team-mates separated by 3.5s at the chequered flag. Williams, Joey Thompson, Ryan Whitehall and Kevin Keyes rounded out the top ten, with Cummins battling his way back to 11th.
The chequered flag on the Senior Classic TT brings the racing programme to a close at the 2026 Classic TT. The celebrations on the Mountain Course continue this afternoon, with attention now turning to the Back to 1996 Rewind Parade, the Classic Sidecar Parade, and the John McGuinness MBE 30 Years Parade, marking three decades since McGuinness made his TT debut.
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©Words/Images above are from an official press release posted courtesy Isle of Man TT Races
For more Isle of Man TT Races news head to our dedicated page: Isle of Man TT Races News Home Page
or head to the official Isle of Man TT website iomttraces.com
What are the Isle of Man TT Races
There are very few sporting events in the world with the tradition, heritage, and prestige of the Isle of Man TT Races. Despite being the world’s oldest continuous motorsports event, the TT remains, however, as fascinating and relevant today – continuously inspiring new generations of riders to come and race the Mountain Course.
Largely unchanged since 1911, the 37.73 miles of public roads simply capture the imagination like no other motorcycling venue can. The TT Course, whilst difficult to learn, is even harder to master – requiring immense levels of skill and concentration as speeds nudge an incredible 200mph.
2026 TT Schedule is available at – https://www.iomttraces.com/racing/page/schedule/
TT+ is the official digital home of the Isle of Man TT Races – offering free, year-round access to the world’s greatest road racing event. Fans can enjoy an ever-growing library of exclusive original content, interviews, as well as over 30 years of archive race highlights.
TT+ brings viewers closer than ever to the riders, machines, and stories that define the TT. Available online and across smart TVs, mobile devices, and tablets, TT+ transforms how fans around the world experience the Mountain Course.
Access TT+ free at – ttplus.iomttraces.com/
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