Michael Dunlop MBE set lap and race records on his way to winning the three-lap Formula One Classic TT race on Sunday afternoon, the Team Classic Suzuki rider coming home 20.5s ahead of Jamie Coward (Greenall Racing Kawasaki) and Mike Browne (Electric Van Company Kawasaki). Browne led on lap one, but Dunlop overhauled him at Glen Helen on the second lap. Dunlop’s final lap of 129.078mph saw the Ulsterman break Bruce Anstey’s nine-year-old lap record, his race winning time more than a minute quicker than the previous mark. With a mixture of grey cloud and sunny skies around the Mountain Course, the race got underway at 1.45pm, 15 minutes later than scheduled, and it was Browne who led at Glen Helen on the opening lap, 2.2s ahead of Dunlop with Dominic Herbertson (TAS/Adam Hewitt Kawasaki) a further 2.7s back in third.
Coward, Nathan Harrison (Greenall Racing Kawasaki) and David Johnson (Steadplan Racing Kawasaki) completed the early top six. By Ballaugh, Browne’s lead over Dunlop was up to 3.3s with Coward now up to third but it remained close with third to sixth separated by two seconds. Browne was the quickest through the Sulby speed trap at 175.492mph, but Shaun Anderson was out having retired at Laurel Bank and Frenchman Amalric Blanc was also out of luck having stopped at Greeba Castle. Through Ramsey Hairpin for the first time, Browne’s lead over Dunlop had crept up to 3.9s as Harrison moved ahead of Herbertson for fourth and at the end of lap, the riders came in for their compulsory pit lap, a first lap speed of 127.217mph giving Browne a lead of four seconds over Dunlop (126.739mph).
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Coward (126.190mph) remained in third, just one second ahead of Harrison (126.072mph), Herbertson (125.325mph), Johnson (125.187mph) as Brian McCormack on a third Greenall Racing Kawasaki, Conor Cummins (Steadplan Racing Kawasaki), Michael Sweeney (Mistral Racing Kawasaki) and Julian Trummer (TC Racing/DP Coldplaning Kawasaki) completed the top ten. Peter Hickman (WizNorton) was out though, retiring at the pits. Dunlop had the quicker pit stop and turned his deficit to Browne into a 2.7s advantage at Glen Helen on lap two with Coward only four seconds adrift in third. Harrison was a similar distance back in fourth and it was now Johnson who was in fifth, Herbertson dropping back to sixth. Dunlop stretched his lead over Browne to 5.2s at Ballaugh with the latter and Coward setting almost identical sector times on the run from Glen Helen. One man who’d lost time though was Cummins and he dropped back from 7th to 11th.
At the head of the field, Dunlop was pressing on and his lead had gone out to 9.2s at Ramsey as Coward closed to within 3.4s of Browne whilst further back fifth placed Johnson was only two seconds ahead of Herbertson. Cummins moved back up to tenth at the expense of fellow Manxman Joe Yeardsley (Mistral Racing Kawasaki). A second lap speed of 124.734mph gave Dunlop a lead of 14.3s as he started his final lap with Browne, who was now leading on the road, holding a 3.2s advantage over Coward.
Harrison and Johnson remained in fourth and fifth, but Herbertson was out at the Nook and that promoted McCormack up the order to sixth. Sweeping round the left hander of Glen Helen for the final time, Dunlop’s charge continued and he’d pulled 19.1s clear of Browne but the battle for second was hotting up as Coward had closed to within 1.1s of the Irishman. And by Ballaugh, Coward had taken over the runners-up position, moving 2.4s clear of his fellow Kawasaki rider.
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But two riders out of luck on the final lap were McCormack and Cummins, McCormack falling at Greeba Castle and Cummins retiring at Barregarrow. McCormack was reported to be conscious with a possible leg injury. A stunning final lap of 129.078mph – 13s better than Bruce Anstey’s previous lap record of 127.496mph – gave Dunlop his fifth Formula One Classic TT victory since 2013, 20.5s clear of Coward (128.712mph) with three of the first four riders all breaking the previous lap record. Browne held on for third and the final podium position after lapping third time around at 127.477mph, 8.8s ahead of Harrison (127.692mph) with Johnson in fifth also above 126mph. Sweeney came through for sixth and the top ten was rounded out by Trummer, Yeardsley, Paul Williams (Lee Williams Motorsports Kawasaki) and Barry Furber (DC Auto Repairs Newtown Suzuki). Former race winner Rob Hodson (CK Racing Ducati) was another rider to retire on the final lap.
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©Words/Images above are from an official press release posted courtesy Isle of Man TT Races
For more Isle of Man TT Races news head to our dedicated page: Isle of Man TT Races News Home Page
or head to the official Isle of Man TT website iomttraces.com
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What are the Isle of Man TT Races
There are very few sporting events in the world with the tradition, heritage, and prestige of the Isle of Man TT Races. Despite being the world’s oldest continuous motorsports event, the TT remains, however, as fascinating and relevant today – continuously inspiring new generations of riders to come and race the Mountain Course. Largely unchanged since 1911, the 37.73 miles of public roads simply capture the imagination like no other motorcycling venue can. The TT Course, whilst difficult to learn, is even harder to master – requiring immense levels of skill and concentration as speeds nudge an incredible 200mph. 2026 TT Schedule is available at – https://www.iomttraces.com/racing/page/schedule/
In June 2025, it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios had picked up a film and docuseries package centred on the Isle of Man TT Races.
The feature film is being produced by Free Association, Plan B and Entertainment 360, with Channing Tatum and Eve Hewson attached to star and Reid Carolin directing. More information can be found: https://www.iomttraces.com/latest/news/amazon-tt-film-docuseries/
Discover TT+
TT+ is the official digital home of the Isle of Man TT Races – offering free, year-round access to the world’s greatest road racing event. Fans can enjoy an ever-growing library of exclusive original content, interviews, as well as over 30 years of archive race highlights.
TT+ brings viewers closer than ever to the riders, machines, and stories that define the TT. Available online and across smart TVs, mobile devices, and tablets, TT+ transforms how fans around the world experience the Mountain Course.
Access TT+ free at – ttplus.iomttraces.com/
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