Updates from the eighth day of this year’s Isle of Man TT
By ArdeePost Reporter
Isle of Man TT: Michael Dunlop Clinches Supersport Victory to Extend Record to 30 Wins
ISLE OF MAN — The legendary Michael Dunlop cemented his status as the most successful rider in Isle of Man TT history after claiming a breathtaking 30th career victory in the 2025 Supersport race on Monday afternoon.
In a display of pure determination and racing brilliance, the Northern Irishman overturned a 2.9-second deficit heading into the final lap, delivering a stunning performance that saw him cross the line with a commanding 10.229-second lead over rival Dean Harrison.
Dunlop Digs Deep for Supersport Glory
The three-lap contest, held under near-perfect conditions around the iconic 37.73-mile Mountain Course, saw Honda’s Dean Harrison take control early on and lead into the final lap. But Dunlop, never one to fade in the face of pressure, found another gear aboard his MD Racing Yamaha R6.
Clocking a lap just a whisker outside his own Supersport lap record, Dunlop charged past Harrison with a ferocity that left the crowd stunned and the timing sheets reeling.
“I had to go deep today,” Dunlop said after the race.
“Dean had me on the ropes for a while there, but I knew if I kept the throttle open and hit every apex, I’d have a chance. It means the world to hit 30 wins — especially like that.”
Harrison and Hillier Complete the Podium
While Dunlop soared, Dean Harrison had to settle for second after putting in a stellar effort on his Honda, narrowly missing out on what would have been his first Supersport win.
“I gave it everything,” Harrison admitted.
“Fair play to Michael — he was unbelievable on that final lap. I’m proud of the way we ran the race, but he just had that bit extra.”
James Hillier, always a steady TT performer, delivered another solid ride to secure third place on his Kawasaki, fending off a tightly packed chasing group.
Top Six Round-Up
The fight for the top six was fierce throughout the race. Davey Todd, fresh off his Superbike win earlier in the day, claimed fourth, followed closely by Josh Brookes in fifth and Rob Hodson, who rounded out the top six with a strong ride.
Milestone Moment for Dunlop
This latest victory not only extends Dunlop’s all-time record at the TT but also underscores his enduring class and competitive fire. Now with 30 TT wins, the 35-year-old from Ballymoney continues to build on a legacy forged through decades of family tradition, tenacity, and triumph.
He now stands alone atop the TT history books, surpassing the legendary Joey Dunlop — his uncle — and John McGuinness, both of whom have left indelible marks on the event.
What’s Next at the TT?
With more races to come in a packed TT 2025 schedule, Dunlop is far from finished. He remains a favourite in the upcoming Senior TT, where he will look to further extend his record and etch his name even deeper into TT folklore.
Stay tuned for continued Isle of Man TT 2025 coverage as racing returns to the Mountain Course with more speed, drama, and history in the making.
Isle of Man TT 2025: Davey Todd Claims Superbike Glory in Nail-Biting Battle with Dunlop
ISLE OF MAN — In one of the most thrilling finishes in recent TT history, Davey Todd roared to victory in the 2025 Isle of Man TT Superbike Race on Monday afternoon, edging out Michael Dunlop by a razor-thin margin of just 1.296 seconds over four electrifying laps of the iconic Mountain Course.
Todd, riding for his own team, delivered a blistering final lap of 135.327mph to seal his third career TT victory, adding to his Superstock and Senior TT wins from 2024. The Yorkshireman led the race from the first timing point at Glen Helen, despite the drama of a slow pit stop mid-race that briefly cut his lead to under 0.3 seconds.
Victory for an Independent Effort
A jubilant Todd hailed the win as a special moment for his team:
“I’m over the moon. It feels so sweet to have done it with our own team — the boys have all done fantastic. I must thank everyone who has helped create this team.”
Todd admitted to feeling unusually nervous ahead of the rescheduled four-lap race, which had been delayed by weather and earlier oil spills on the course:
“I’ve never been so nervous before a race. The conditions were tricky, but I knew we had the pace, and we stuck to our plan.”
Dunlop Fights to the End
Michael Dunlop, a veteran and fan favourite, pushed hard throughout the race on his BMW but was hampered by tyre degradation and time lost overtaking Dean Harrison on the final lap.
“The tyre started spinning late on, and I just couldn’t push any harder,” Dunlop told Radio TT.
“We’ve struggled a bit with the bike’s set-up all week, but I still felt good — it just wasn’t quite enough today.”
Another Podium for Dean Harrison
Third place went to Dean Harrison, who continued his remarkable record of TT podium finishes. Riding for Honda Racing, the Laxey local came home 43.519 seconds behind Dunlop, though not without his own challenges.
“I struggled with stability and the bike pulling wheelies. I feel like I’m riding well, but there’s work to be done to take the next step.”
Best of the Rest: Local Heroes and Rising Stars
Local favourite Nathan Harrison delivered a career-best performance, clocking 131.046mph on his way to fourth place on the H&H Motorcycles Honda.
“My stomach was like a washing machine this morning,” he laughed.
“I felt pressure after a strong qualifying week, but the hour-long delay actually helped calm me. Fourth place here, against these guys? I’m absolutely made up!”
Davo Johnson (Kawasaki) claimed fifth, followed by James Hillier in sixth on the Muc-Off Racing Honda — a bike he only secured a few weeks ago.
TT legend John McGuinness, making his 112th TT start, came seventh, with Josh Brookes, Mikey Evans, and Paul Jordan rounding out the top ten.
Retirements and Drama
There was heartbreak for Conor Cummins, who retired in the pits at the end of the opening lap. Others to suffer mechanical issues included James Hind, Dominic Herbertson, Ian Hutchinson, and Michael Browne, all of whom had been in contention for top ten finishes.
New Zealander Mitch Rees, a TT newcomer, suffered a slip-off at Ramsey Hairpin, but was reported unharmed by race control.
Among the Manx contingent, Marcus Simpson and Jamie Cringle — making his debut for Michael Rutter’s Bathams team — finished 16th and 17th respectively, drawing cheers from the local crowd.
Looking Ahead
As the Isle of Man TT 2025 continues, Davey Todd has further cemented his status as a rising legend on the Mountain Course. With three TT wins to his name and growing confidence leading his own team, Todd’s star is unquestionably on the rise.
For Dunlop and Harrison, the quest for more silverware continues — and fans can expect more fireworks before the festival ends.
Stay tuned to our Isle of Man TT 2025 coverage for all the latest race reports, results, and rider reactions.
Isle of Man TT 2025: Crowe Brothers Shatter Lap Record in Dominant Sidecar Victory
ISLE OF MAN — In a sensational performance that will be remembered for years to come, Ryan and Callum Crowe stormed to sidecar supremacy at the Isle of Man TT 2025, smashing the lap record and securing a commanding win in the opening three-wheeled race of the week.
The Jurby-based brothers delivered an electric ride on their Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda, not only winning by over a minute from legends Ben Birchall and new passenger Patrick Rosney, but also rewriting the record books with a final lap that was three seconds faster than the previous lap record set in 2023.
A New Era in Sidecar Racing
The race, reduced to two laps due to a compressed Monday schedule, saw the Crowes establish an early lead before unleashing an astonishing final circuit around the Mountain Course that clocked well inside the existing record.
After the race, driver Ryan Crowe expressed surprise at the speed they found in windy conditions:
“I didn’t think we’d do that—it was that windy out there. But the bike felt great and everything just clicked.”
In light of ongoing discussions around potential changes to standardised engines in the class for 2026, Crowe cheekily added:
“If no one can better it this year, it [the lap record] could be ours forever.”
His brother and passenger, Callum Crowe, praised Ryan’s skill and the team’s off-season effort:
“It’s not easy to go that fast. Ryan was outstanding out there, especially after a tough week of practice. Huge thanks to the team who’ve worked tirelessly all winter.”
Birchall and Rosney Settle for Second
Despite missing out on the win, Ben Birchall, a 14-time TT winner, was gracious in defeat. With newcomer Patrick Rosney in the chair after the retirement of Ben’s brother Tom, the duo showed promise with a solid second-place finish.
“Congratulations to the Crowes—they’re in a great place,” Birchall said.
“I know what it takes to go that fast, and they’ve absolutely earned it.”
Reflecting on his new partnership with Rosney, Birchall added:
“It’ll come. We just need a bit more time to gel. The foundations are there.”
Crawford and Hardie Celebrate First Podium
The final step on the podium went to Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie on the Team ARC/SJH Bodyworks Kawasaki, who delivered a gritty performance to claim third — their first TT podium.
“We’re over the moon with the result. It was hard going out there,” said Crawford.
“Thanks to the entire team and special thoughts go to Team Founds — they’d have been right here with us if not for their crash in qualifying.”
Battles Behind the Leaders
There was plenty of excitement in the battle for the remaining top ten places. Lewis Blackstock and newcomer passenger Oscar Lawrence were running strongly until a mid-race stoppage for mechanical adjustments saw them fall back, eventually finishing eighth.
Former World Champions Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement impressed with a fourth-place finish on only their second TT appearance, just ahead of another set of standout newcomers, Kieran Clarke and Andrew Johnson, in fifth.
Sixth went to George Holden and Mark Wilkes, while the Ramsden brothers, Steve and Matthew, came home seventh.
Rounding out the top ten were:
- Blackstock and Lawrence (eighth, after their recovery),
- Greg Lambert and Andrew Haynes (ninth),
- Robert Dawson and Matthew Sims (tenth).
Local Heroes and Debut Highlights
There were strong performances from Manx pair Darren Hope and Lenny Bumfrey, who finished just outside the top ten in 11th.
Manx newcomer David Marshall and Irish passenger Luke Galligan earned the final finisher’s spot in 25th, completing a highly competitive debut effort around the daunting Mountain Course.
Record-Breaking Victory Fuels Momentum
As whispers grow about changes to sidecar technical regulations, Ryan and Callum Crowe’s record-breaking ride may stand as a defining moment in TT sidecar history — a statement not just of talent, but of timing, teamwork, and fearless speed.
With one race still to come later in the week, all eyes will be on the Crowes to see if they can deliver another dominant display and complete the sidecar double at Isle of Man TT 2025.
Stay tuned for full TT coverage, analysis, and reaction as the action continues on the Mountain Course.
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