Michael Dunlop, Davey Todd and Dean Harrison head up a high calibre entry list for the 2023 Southern 100 on the Isle of Man, while Ian Lougher will make a triumphant return to the event he has won on a record 32 occasions.
The first major road race to take place since June’s Isle of Man TT festival, the Manx isle will once again set the scene with the Southern 100, which takes place on a contained 4.8-mile Billown Circuit route to the south, close to Castletown.
Last year’s Southern 100 champion Todd returns to defend his title with Milenco by Padgetts, but faces stiff opposition from two TT standouts and former solo champions in Dunlop and Harrison.
Dunlop emerged as the standout at this year’s TT after galloping to four victories, placing him just a single TT win shy of his uncle Joey Dunlop’s outright record. His hopes at the Southern 100 are boosted by his Hawk Racing’s switch to Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade machinery for the plus-1000cc class.
Though he came away from the TT without a race winners’ trophy, five thirds, a second place and a personal best lap of the Mountain Course still marked Harrison’s best performance on the DAO Kawasaki, though he will be keen to get one over on Dunlop especially on the Southern.
In addition, a fourth solo champion will be present in the shape of Ian Lougher, who will line-up for the first time in a decade aboard his Team ILR’s Paton S-1R in the Lightweight class.
Others looking to cause an upset include KTS Racing’s Jamie Coward, Dafabet Racing’s Dominic Herbertson and PreZ Racing’s Paul Jordan. Burrows Engineering/RK Racing’s Mike Browne will also be present to build on his maiden TT podium in the first Supertwins TT race and make up for the bitter disappointment of retiring from the lead of the second.
2023 Southern 100 Schedule & Programme
| 2023 Southern 100 Schedule | ||
| PRACTICE - Monday [10 July] | ||
| 18.18 - 18.25 | All Newcomers Sighting Lap | |
| 18.26 - 18.40 | 1100cc Class Red Plates | |
| 18.47 - 19.01 | Lightweight Class Green Plates | |
| 19.29 - 19.43 | Supersport 600 White Plates | |
| 19.50 - 20.04 | Supersport 600 Yellow Plates | |
| 20.11 - 20.25 | 1100cc Class Red Plates | |
| 20.32 - 20.46 | Lightweight Class Green Plates | |
| 20.53 - 21.10 | Sidecars | |
| PRACTICE & RACING - Tuesday [11 July] | ||
| 18.18 - 18.30 | Solo Non Qualifiers | |
| 18.37 - 18.49 | Supersport 600 White Plates | |
| 18.56 - 19.08 | Superspor 600 Yellow Plates | |
| 19.15 - 19.32 | Sidecars | |
| 20.00 | RACE 1 - Peel Holdings Senior Race | 7 Laps |
| 20.35 | RACE 2 - Mike Kerruish P+H Lightweight Race | 6 Laps |
| RACING - Wednesday [12 July] | ||
| 18.25 | RACE 3 - Ellan Vannin Fuels Senior Race | 7 Laps |
| 19.05 | RACE 4b - JCK 600 B Race | 7 Laps |
| 19.40 | RACE 4a - Radcliffe Butchers 600cc Race | 7 Laps |
| 20.30 | RACE 5 - Ace Hire Sidecar Race | 6 Laps |
| RACING - Thursday [13 July] | ||
| 9.50 | RACE 6b - JCK 600cc B Race | 7 Laps |
| 10.30 | RACE 6a - S&S Motors 600cc Race | 7 Laps |
| 11.10 | RACE 7 - GH Corlett Solo Founders Race | 6 Laps |
| 11.40 | RACE 8 - Steam Packet Senior Race | 7 Laps |
| 12.15 | RACE A - Lightweight Consolation Race | 6 Laps |
| 13.50 | RACE 9 - Foxdale 600cc Challenge Race | 7 Laps |
| 14.30 | RACE 10 - Bushies Brewery Lightweight Race | 6 Laps |
| 15.20 | RACE 11 - Ellan Vannin Fuels Championship Race | 9 Laps |
| 16.00 | RACE 12 - Daryl Blake Construction Sidecar Champ | 8 Laps |
