TT 2017: Dunlop ups the Superbike pace to 131mph

Full report below from BSN

Bennetts Suzuki’s Michael Dunlop has upped the Superbike pace in this morning’s TT 2017 practice session, setting a 131.061mph from a standing start to head Peter Hickman and Ian Hutchinson on the timesheets so far.

Dunlop is desperate to get in as much track time as he can, putting in four laps on the GSX-R1000 and is trying as on his third time around, he outbraked himself at Ramsey, going up a sliproad.

Hickman put in a 130.629 on his flying lap on the Smiths BMW with Hutchinson’s Tyco BMW also finishing a flying lap with a 130.327. Manxman Dan Kneen put in his fastest ever lap of the Mountain Course, setting a 130.324 despite a stone courtesy of Martin Jessopp’s rear wheel shattering his screen.

Veteran Michael Rutter ended in fifth place with a 130.326 and was the last man in the 130mph bracket on his flying lap. Padgetts Honda’s Bruce Anstey, who is fastest through the Sulby speed trap at 194mph, set a 129.913 on his third lap on the RC213V-S.

Dean Harrison put the Silicone Kawasaki in seventh with a 129.187 and big/small mate Lee Johnston stuck his Superstock-spec BMW S1000RR in eighth with a 128.986mph lap. James Hiller finished on a 128.576 from a standing start to claim ninth with Jessopp’s Riders BMW in tenth with a 127.887.

David Johnson set a 126.938 on his Norton with Josh Brookes ending on a 126.006.

The session was red-flagged after an incident at Greeba Castle where Lee Johnston crashed. He is reportedly conscious with fractures. Danny Webb crashed at Laurel Bank earlier in the session and suffered a shoulder injury. Both have been taken to Nobles Hospital.

Image source: Impact Images