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2013 Classic TT: Dunlop decimates Formula One field

Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop marmalised the field in today's Classic Formula One TT, taking victory from Conor Cummins by the business end of a minute with Ryan Kneen in third place and posting a 123mph lap in the process.

Having earlier completed a parade lap on an ex-Kenny Roberts Jnr factory Suzuki RGV500, the Ballymoney ace rocketed to a clear win over fellow Team Classic Suzuki rider Conor Cummins. But it wasn’t all plain sailing. The bike’s clutch was causing problems from the word go and Dunlop admitted at the finish that it had been a difficult ride.

Smothered in oil, he said: "It was a nightmare at times - but give the bike it’s due, it kept going. I wanted to get it home to repay Steve [Wheatman] and bike builder John [Sims] for all their hard work putting it together for me."

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He and Cummins were first and second throughout, but Dunlop was always in the driving seat. Michael pulled out almost one second-per-mile to the first time check, and by Ramsey Hairpin the gap was 19.6 seconds. Gary Johnson’s 1250 Harris was a match for pace, the two machines recording a near-identical 167mph down Sulby Straight, although Johnson was a further eight seconds astern of Cummins at Ramsey.

An opening lap of 123.678mph gave Dunlop a 32-second advantage over Cummins, which extended to 41s at Glen Helen on lap two and 48s at Ramsey. There were no major gains or losses in the pits, but Dunlop continued to extend his lead over Cummins and the rest of the field.

Steve Mercer’s Yamaha Classic Racing Team TZ750 OW31 was slowly reeled in by Ryan Kneen on the OWO1 four-stroke version and, at Glen Helen on lap three the margin was just 1.3 seconds. Jamie Coward retired at the same spot, while Gary Johnson and Dan Stewart both went out at Crosby.

Dunlop was clearly having problems with the clutch on his Suzuki, but such was his lead that he was able to back-off the throttle and still maintain a safe lead over Cummins.

With less than 30 miles remaining, he was 62s ahead with Kneen up to third, six seconds ahead of Mercer.

The latter collided with the wall at Ramsey Hairpin on the final lap and tipped off, without injury, after the clocks came loose and jammed in the front yokes. Despite not suffering injuries, he was forced to retire.

A lead of 58.3s with the one last mountain crossing to go proved more than sufficient for Dunlop, who was delighted with his fifth win over the course this year.

Cummins’s similar machine never missed a beat, but he said that the ride had been hard work, especially after completing four laps on a 350 Norton a couple of hours earlier. Ryan Kneen was lucky to secure third place after his Yamaha ran out of petrol exiting Governor’s Bridge for the final time.

John Barton was a safe fourth place at the finish, 36s ahead of Mark Miller and the Eddie Lawson Daytona replica Yamaha. The leading privateer was RAF man Adrian Cox on the Topgun Racing Honda in eighth place.

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Chris Palmer on the Rob Brew Racing Yamaha was first away in the Formula 2 Class, fresh from his victory in the Okells 350cc race. James Cowton on the Peter Berwick Yamaha was next with Roy Richardson on the FCL Racing/Martin Bullock Manxsport Yamaha third away from the line.

Palmer was fastest to the first checkpoint at Glen Helen establishing a three second lead from Phil McGurk on the Springcourt Motorcycles Yamaha with Cowton third a further second back. Palmer's completed his opening lap in 20:30.150/110.416 to lead Cowton (20:36.637) by six seconds at the end of the first lap. However, Cowton moved ahead of the Isle of Man based rider on the second lap with a 20:14.142/111.872mph lap, establishing a lead of just over two seconds with Palmer and McGurk completing the top three.

Palmer came back at the Yorkshire rider on the third lap, clocking 21:12.082/106.776 to lead him by twelve seconds with McGurk (21:50.767) retaining third and that remained the top three at the Grandstand with Palmer winning in 1:22.21.694/109.944, eleven seconds ahead of Cowton (1:22.32.656/109.701) with McGurk (1:23.45.022/108.121 finishing in third. Chris Moore (1:25.14.017/106.240) in fourth place on the Yamaha was the first privateer back.

In the Formula Classic the race went right to the wire with Gavin Lupton and Dean Harrison swapping positions throughout the four-lap race. Harrison established a ten second lead by the end of the second lap but it was clear that he was experiencing problems on the third lap and Gavin Lupton built a commanding lead of over a minute going into the last lap.

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Harrison came back at him on the last lap and, in an astonishing finish, he somehow clawed back two seconds from Cronk-Ny-Mona to take the win by 0.174 with a time of 1:28.06.283/102.778, the second closest finish ever on the TT Mountain Course.

In the winner's enclosure, Harrison reported that his tank had come loose and he held it in place between his knees for the remainder of the race. Lupton (1:28.06.457/102.774) was left with the consolation of finishing as the fastest privateer and Chris McGahan took the final podium position in a time of 1:28.26.491/102.386.

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