BMW's Michael Dunlop blitzed the Dainese Superbike TT field to take the win this afternoon by some 20 seconds from Guy Martin as Bruce Anstey marmalised the outright lap record with a 132.298mph on lap six.
Dunlop was in charge from lap one and passed James Hillier for the lead at Ballaugh on lap one. He was never again headed and broke the outright lap record twice with a 131.730 from a standing start and then again on lap with a 131.890.
“I got the good start I wanted, was a bit nervous early on but then I just sat there – people thought I was made when I left Honda going to BMW which was not proven around here, but we’ve shown what it is capable of with this result. I am so happy to be here and this is a nice present for the team. They have worked so hard on the bike which was fantastic, just perfect," said Dunlop.
“I can’t say enough about the boys in the team who were up all night working on the bike and now I have another five races to come – we’ll get over the beer tonight and then think about them. I came here wanting to win a race, I’ve done that, great, but there is a lot more to come from this BMW.”
It is Dunlop's eighth TT win while Martin finishes second for a seventh time. Manxman and Honda Racing's Conor Cummins ended in third place and 23 seconds behind Dunlop. The Ramsey man was only three seconds behind Martin at the chequered flag.
Valvoline Honda's Anstey ran on at The Nook on lap one, losing at least 30 seconds but then, as he does, got faster and faster before setting the outright lap record on his final circuit.
Veteran Michael Rutter took fifth place, just ahead of William Dunlop on the second Tyco Suzuki. John McGuinness slipped back to seventh after starting well whilke Dean Harrison bagged eighth place.
Hillier was in charge early on but couldn't live with the leaders' pace and ended in ninth place, one ahead of Milwaukee Yamaha's Josh Brookes, who equalled his Superbike TT finish from last year with tenth. Ian Hutchinson retired with engine trouble.
