Michael Dunlop equals all-time TT wins record

Ballymoney man takes 26th victory in opening Supersport race

Michael Dunlop has equaled the all-time record for TT wins taking victory in the opening Supersport race of 2024.

The Ballymoney man took top spot with his 26th victory overall, matching the tally of late uncle Joey Dunlop.

Elsewhere, Davey Todd took an impressive second on the Powertoolmate Ducati after pushing Dunlop throughout the four-lap contest.

Meanwhile, Dean Harrison earned his first podium as a Honda Racing UK rider by claiming third.

Dunlop told Radio TT that equalling his uncle's record was weight off his shoulders.

He said: "The record itself is regardless. Joey was Joey. I don't care about me. Joey was something special."

Dunlop spoke to Chris Kinley:

The early stages of the opening lap saw Davey Todd setting the pace but with almost nothing to separate himself from Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop and James Hillier in the top four at Ballaugh.

A tight-knit battle at the top continued all the way towards the first flying lap of the contest as Harrison lead the way on lap one, 1.97 seconds clear of Todd in second who in turn created a 1.2-second cushion ahead of Dunlop in third.

Those top three at that stage had already opened a 7.1-second advantage over the next nearest podium contender Jamie Coward in fourth.

On the run to Ramsey on lap two, Dunlop began to up the pace as he took the lead for the first time at Ballaugh, overhauling Harrison by 0.53 seconds with Todd still circling 0.52 seconds further behind in third.

The order at the top changed again heading towards the mountain - as Dunlop extended his lead, Todd then nudged in front of Harrison having made up time into Ramsey.

Dunlop continued to extend his advantage with his pace over the mountain and entered the crucial first pit stops now 4.5 seconds ahead of Todd in second and Harrison dropping a little further back in third.

Elsewhere, with Coward retiring at the pit lane having been running strong in fourth, this promoted Hillier up into fourth place and James Hind continuing his good form throughout the week slotting into fifth.

With the gaps in the top three starting to extend, there was no letup from Dunlop who at Glen Helen on lap three had already opened up a 5.5 second whilst also clearing some traffic ahead on the road.

By this point Todd still holding onto P2 had given himself some breathing room of around 5.6 seconds to Harrison coming into Ballaugh for a third time.

Among other notable performances at this stage, impressing in the top ten on lap three were the likes of Hind holding onto fifth spot along with Mike Browne and Michael Evans in eighth and ninth respectively at Ramsey.

Back at the front heading onto the mountain once more, Todd began to eat into Dunlop's lead in the north of the Island to below four seconds - but Dunlop would respond to make the difference 5.07 seconds heading onto the final lap.

With many fans hoping for a nail-biting battle on the final lap, Dunlop showed no signs of holding back by extended his lead from Todd to 6.87 seconds at Glen Helen on lap four which had stretched to nearly eight at the Bungalow.

Taking a historic win come the finish, Dunlop on the MD Racing Yamaha took the chequered flag with an eventual advantage of 8.574-seconds and a final flying lap of 129.214.