Manx Grand Prix Latest News
Browne Clinches Victory in RST Classic Superbike at Manx Grand Prix
Mike Browne brought the 2024 Manx Grand Prix to a thrilling close on Monday evening with a hard-fought victory in the RST Classic Superbike race. Riding for Key Racing Ducati, Browne outpaced the Greenall Racing Kawasaki duo of Rob Hodson and Derek Sheils, claiming victory by 13.973 seconds. The race, which was cut short after just one lap due to worsening weather conditions, marked a historic moment as Browne secured the first-ever win for the Ducati 916 on the Mountain Course and Ducati’s first triumph since Rob Holden’s victory in the 1995 Singles TT race.
Starting at 6:20 pm to avoid the incoming bad weather, Browne set the pace early on. He was the fastest on the initial nine-mile stretch to Glen Helen, opening a 3.6-second lead over Hodson, with Dominic Herbertson on the BHR Racing Kawasaki trailing a further 2.7 seconds in third.
As the riders crossed Ballaugh Bridge, Browne extended his lead to nearly six seconds. However, the battle for the podium positions remained tight, with Sheils moving up to third and Craig Neve, who hit the Sulby speed trap at a blistering 174.261mph, advancing to fourth. Herbertson slipped to fifth, while Brian McCormack settled into sixth.
The race’s intensity continued to build as Browne extended his advantage around Ramsey Hairpin, increasing his lead to 9.379 seconds. Meanwhile, Herbertson reclaimed fourth place, edging out Neve by a mere 0.003 seconds.
However, as the riders approached the Bungalow, the worsening weather and declining visibility over the Mountain forced race officials to stop the event after one lap. Browne’s lap speed of 123.919mph secured him the victory, with Hodson (122.359mph) taking second and Sheils (121.899mph) earning a podium spot in third. Neve (120.187mph) and Herbertson (120.039mph) rounded out the top five, with Ian Hutchinson (118.916mph) finishing sixth on the Steadplan Kawasaki.
The challenging conditions led to several retirements, including McCormack, who dropped out on the Mountain section. This opened the door for Michael Rutter (Bathams Ales Suzuki) to finish seventh, followed by Michael Evans (Good with Wood Suzuki), Amalric Blanc (Hampe Racing Kawasaki), and Barry Furber (DC Auto Repairs Newtown Suzuki).
Lougher Triumphs in PE Lightweight Manx Grand Prix
Earlier in the day, Ian Lougher added another victory to his illustrious career by winning the single-lap PE Lightweight Manx Grand Prix. Riding the Laycock Racing Yamaha, Lougher capitalized on mechanical issues faced by Michael Dunlop to claim a 22.2-second win. Lee Johnston (Reed Racing Honda) and Stuart Hall (Whippet Racing Yamaha) completed the podium.
Dunlop, who led through Glen Helen, looked strong early on but faced problems as the race progressed. Lougher steadily closed the gap, eventually overtaking Dunlop by Cronk ny Mona. Dunlop’s misfortunes saw him drop to 15th, while Johnston battled to secure second place ahead of Hall. Rhys Hardisty (Phil Anslow Coaches/Kaymac Yamaha) and Michael Evans (Atherstone Accident Repair Centre KTM) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with Evans also claiming top honors in the Ultra-Lightweight category.