Cameron Donald took his first ever TT win today with victory in the action packed and drama filled Dainese Superbike race. Riding the Relentless by TAS Suzuki, the Australian took advantage of the misfortunes of Guy Martin and John McGuinness to seize control at two thirds race distance and he came home just over ten seconds clear of team-mate Bruce Anstey, to make it a tremendous day for Hector and Philip Neill’s team. A perfect day for Suzuki was completed with Adrian Archibald finishing in third.

With bright, sunny weather bathing the Island, conditions were ideal for racing but their was confusion at the start and Guy Martin was delayed getting to the line.   He missed his starting slot by almost 9 seconds before getting underway (he was held up on his way back from the loo).
Conor Cummins and John McGuinness were also delayed before everything got back on track and their delay clearly showed at Glen Helen as it was Ian Hutchinson who led from Donald, Anstey, Ryan Farquhar, McGuinness and Martin. However, as the lap progressed, Martin was getting into his rhythm on the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda and he took the lead with an opening lap of 129.103mph to lead McGuinness by almost 4 seconds with Donald, Anstey, Hutchinson and Farquhar not far behind.

The drama continued on the 2nd lap when McGuinness was late at Glen Helen but he eventually arrived, pulling in with a misfire. He got going again but the problem returned and he called it a day at Sulby Crossroads. Martin now had more breathing space and with a second lap of 129.540mph, the fastest of the race, his lead was up to over ten seconds. The Lincolnshire rider controlled the race from his signals until the 4th lap when he was reported as being missing at Ramsey Hairpin. News came through that he too had retired at Sulby whilst early pace setter Hutchinson was also out near Union Mills with Cummins following on the 4th lap at Keppel Gate.

The two TAS Suzuki’s were flying though, circulating together on the road and although Anstey tried to break away, he soon realized it was a forlorn task and he tucked in behind Donald for the rest of the race. The Aussie, in only his third TT, was lapping at the 129mph mark and the duo crossed the line almost together although it was Donald who prevailed over his Antipodean rival by 10.77 seconds with a new race record of 1hr 47m05.89s, 126.82mph. It was not only his first win, but also Australia’s first since Graeme McGregor won the 1984 Junior TT.

Archibald, 9th on the first lap, worked his way through the field with his fastest ever TT lap to finish 3rd, his first podium for three years, firmly silencing his critics. Gary Johnson, one of last year’s best newcomers, rode brilliantly on his Honda to take 4th with Ian Lougher finally getting the better of Farquhar, on his Superstock machine, for fifth.

Keith Amor took 7th ahead of an excellent ride by Dan Stewart in 8th with the top 12 being completed by Carl Rennie, Steve Plater, Mark Parrett and Les Shand.  Incidents were reported for Stephen McKnight at the Bungalow and Thomas Shoenfelder at Sarah’s but neither was believed to be serious.

Results:
1 6 Cameron Donald 01 47 2008 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing 05.89 126.826 Silver
2 5 Bruce Anstey 2008 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing 01 47 16.66 126.614 Silver
3 7 Adrian Archibald 2008 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / AMA Racing Team 01 48 37.97 125.034 Silver
4 16 Gary Johnson 2005 Honda CBR 1000cc / Robinson Concrete 01 49 12.67 124.372 Silver
5 9 Ian Lougher 2008 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Black Horse Finance Yamaha Motor UK 01 49 31.38 124.018 Silver
6 11 Ryan Farquhar 2008 Kawasaki ZX10 1000cc / Harker Racing 01 49 35.70 123.936 Silver
7 12 Keith Amor 2008 Honda Fireblade 1000cc / Wilson Craig Racing 01 50 34.50 122.838 Silver
8 20 Daniel Stewart 2007 Honda CBR 1000cc / Wilcock Consulting 01 50 35.73 122.815 Silver
9 14 Carl Rennie 2008 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / PRF Racing 01 50 57.00 122.423 Silver
10 10 Steve Plater 2008 Yamaha R1 1000cc / AIM Racing 01 51 07.34 122.233 Silver
11 21 Mark Parrett 2007 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Ripley Land 01 51 58.53 121.302 Silver
12 17 Les Shand 2007 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Detec Site services 01 52 34.60 120.654 Bronze
13 18 Ian Pattinson 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Martin Bullock Raceteam 01 53 07.64 120.066 Bronze
14 34 Michael Dunlop 2008 Yamaha R1 998cc / Phase One Endurance Team 01 53 14.98 119.937 Bronze
15 13 Gary Carswell 2008 Suzuki GSXR1000K8 1000cc 01 53 17.27 119.896 Bronze
16 23 Davy Morgan 2008 Honda Fireblade 1000cc / CSC/Branson Racing 01 53 54.93 119.236 Bronze
17 27 Mark Buckley 2008 Yamaha R1 998cc / Phase One Endurance 01 54 01.90 119.114 Bronze
18 30 Stephen Oates 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Hallett Aviation Racing 01 54 13.74 118.908 Bronze
19 25 John Burrows 2007 Honda CBR 1000cc / H.M Sports Motorhomes 01 54 24.67 118.719 Bronze
20 36 Paul Dobbs 2004 Suzuki K4 1000cc / Dave East Engineering 01 55 22.54 117.727 Bronze
21 24 Paul Owen 2006 Kawasaki ZX10 1000cc / Back to Normal, Ready/Steady/Go 01 55 23.96 117.703 Bronze
22 28 Victor Gilmore 2007 Yamaha R1 1000cc / T Lindsay Racing 01 55 24.03 117.701 Bronze
23 29 Ian Mackman 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc 01 55 24.12 117.700 Bronze
24 38 Stefano Bonetti 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc 01 55 46.54 117.320 Bronze
25 51 George Spence 2006 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Ayton Smiddy Ltd 01 56 00.63 117.083 Bronze
26 45 Paul Shoesmith 2008 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Ice Valley Speedfreak Raceteam 01 56 26.37 116.651 Bronze
27 33 David Paredes 2008 Yamaha R1 1000cc / BILL SMITH MOTORS 01 56 36.35 116.485 Bronze
28 47 Tim Maher 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc 01 56 53.19 116.205 Bronze
29 39 Tim Poole 2008 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Mark Craven 01 57 00.79 116.079 Bronze
30 57 Fabrice Miguet 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc 01 57 31.29 115.577 Bronze
31 50 Dave Madsen-Mygdal 2007 Yamaha R1 1000cc / CSC/Branson Racing 01 57 59.81 115.112
32 54 John Crellin 2006 Suzuki GSX K7 1000cc / Pro Superbikes John Richards 01 58 24.45 114.712
Racing
33 58 David Hewson 2008 Kawasaki ZX10R 1000cc 01 58 38.83 114.481
34 56 Alan Bud Jackson 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / BDS Fuels 01 59 31.22 113.644
35 31 Liam Quinn Yamaha R1 1000cc / Team Racing 01 59 39.65 113.511
36 68 Mike Crellin 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Webtech Software 02 00 51.82 112.381
37 59 Karsten Schmidt 2008 Ducati 1098 1098cc / Befaster/Ducati Berlin 02 00 57.92 112.287
38 63 Chris Petty 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Dave Milling Motorcycles 02 01 12.28 112.065