until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Northern Irishman Michael Dunlop has made Isle of Man TT history by taking his 27th win around the historic Mountain Circuit, surpassing his uncle Joey’s twenty-year record as the most successful rider in the 122-year-old race.
The new record came with victory over Peter Hickman and Dom Herbertson in the delayed first Supertwin TT race of the week.
Dunlop, who matched his uncle’s record set in 2000 in the opening Supersport TT race on Saturday, was denied what looked like a clear victory in Sunday’s Superbike race when his visor came loose after a pitstop, eliminating a 25-second lead.
However, there was no repeat on Wednesday when the first lightweight race finally got underway after rain on Tuesday night saw it delayed 24 hours, with the Paton racer pulling out a big lead in the early stages of the three-lap race and then simply controlling the gap to Hickman behind to secure the historic victory.
Most Isle of Man TT wins
Michael Dunlop - 27
Joey Dunlop - 26
John McGuinness - 23
Dave Molyneux - 17
Ian Hutchinson - 16
Mike Hailwood - 14
Ben Birchall - 14
Tom Birchall - 14
Peter Hickman - 14
“The wee girl was struggling a bit,” Dunlop said afterwards of the Paton machine. “We had a problem during the week, but the team made it work. I knew it was going to be quick, so I said to myself ‘I better push on’ and the bike was mint.
“The two boys have worked like dogs all week after a problem in the first practice, and I don’t know if we’ve made a deal but hopefully [as the bike doesn't belong to Dunlop's team but to Paton] she’s mine to keep now!
“We should have had this on Sunday. I think we deserved it well. It was out of our control, but it doesn’t matter now.
"I’m no better than Joey, I never was, and I’ve got no intentions of being better than him, but everyone has always aspired to beat him. It’s an honour.”
Behind the top two, there was a close fight for the final podium spot between Herbertson and Jamie Coward, with the two of them spending much of their race following Hickman and Dunlop respectively.
Herbertson ultimately maintained a five-second gap to take his first podium.
