Michael Dunlop Dominates Lightweight Classic TT
Michael Dunlop once again demonstrated his mastery of the TT Mountain Course on Wednesday evening, storming to a commanding victory in the Lightweight Classic TT. The Ballymoney star, riding his trusted MD Racing Honda, controlled the two-lap race from start to finish and ultimately crossed the line 47.1 seconds clear of his nearest rival.
Behind him, veteran Ian Lougher secured second aboard the Deadline/Danfay Yamaha, while Adam McLean (Laylaw Racing Yamaha) claimed the final podium place after a spirited ride.
The race got underway at 6:30pm, in conditions that had steadily improved after earlier showers. The sun returned to dry most of the 37.73-mile circuit, though riders still faced scattered damp patches in shaded areas. Adam McLean, first away on the road, set the early marker by reaching Glen Helen ahead of the pack, but it was Dunlop who had already seized control on the timing screens. By the first checkpoint, Dunlop was nearly two seconds clear of Mike Browne, with Lougher another two seconds back in third.
Further behind, Dan Sayle slotted into fourth on the Chapman Racing Honda, narrowly ahead of Stuart Hall (Whippet Racing Yamaha). The top six were covered by just ten seconds, with Alan Oversby leading the 400cc battle in ninth overall.
By Ballaugh Bridge, Dunlop had stretched his lead to eight seconds. Browne, however, ran into trouble, losing nearly half a minute on the run from Glen Helen. Though he rallied briefly on the Ramsey sector, the damage was done—dropping him down the order.
At Ramsey Hairpin, Dunlop’s advantage grew again to nearly 14 seconds over Lougher, with McLean moving into third. Behind him, Sayle and Hall were separated by fractions of a second, while the 400cc contest tightened with Oversby, Craig Neve, and Paul Cassidy all within a couple of seconds of each other.
McLean was the first rider through the Grandstand, lapping at 113.478mph, but Dunlop responded with a blistering 115.105mph—opening his lead to nearly 17 seconds. Lougher, Sayle, Hall, and Rhys Hardisty completed the top six. Browne’s race ended abruptly with a crash at Brandywell, though thankfully he was unhurt.
On the final lap, Dunlop only tightened his grip. At Glen Helen, his advantage was nearly 20 seconds over McLean, with Lougher still steady in third. Despite McLean briefly nibbling time away at the Bungalow, he suffered a late setback over the Mountain section, losing almost half a minute.
Dunlop crossed the line at an average of 115.195mph, sealing yet another emphatic victory on the Mountain Course. Lougher inherited second, while McLean limped home to third, only 0.654s clear of Sayle, with Hall a whisker behind—just 0.039s further back.
Hardisty took sixth, followed by Michal Dokoupil and Michael Sweeney, who impressed with a strong final lap at 112.217mph. Oversby’s efforts kept him inside the top 10, while Neve and Cassidy rounded out the order.
Browne Edges McLean in Historic Senior Classic TT Thriller
If Dunlop’s win was one of control, the Historic Senior Classic TT provided a heart-stopping contrast. On Friday afternoon, Mike Browne secured victory by the slimmest of margins—just 0.268 seconds—in a two-lap shootout that went down to the wire.
Riding the Peter Lodge Racing Norton, Browne narrowly denied Adam McLean (Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Royal Enfield) after a tense duel. Dean Harrison (Craven Classic Racing/Ted Woof Matchless) completed the podium, while early leader John McGuinness saw his challenge end in heartbreak with a puncture.
McGuinness had blasted into an early lead from number one on the road, arriving at Glen Helen with a 14.8s cushion. Behind him, Joe Yeardsley was running well before retiring, while Shaun Anderson, last year’s Manx GP winner, also bowed out early.
By Ballaugh, McGuinness still had command, though Paul Jordan and Browne were closing fast. As Jordan retired at Parliament Square, Browne and McLean pushed into contention. At the Bungalow, the lead shrank to 5.9s, with Browne just 0.7s behind, turning the race into a three-way scrap.
McGuinness completed his first lap at 108.601mph, but disaster struck—a rear puncture forced him to retire in the pits. That handed McLean the lead, but Browne was only 2.8s adrift.
On the final lap, McLean initially extended his advantage to 4.7s at Glen Helen, but Browne refused to yield. By Ballaugh, he had cut the gap to 2.4s, and at Ramsey Hairpin, Browne made his move, turning deficit into a 1.3s lead.
McLean fought back over the Mountain, reducing the gap to less than half a second at Cronk ny Mona. The pair crossed the line almost together, but Browne’s superior final sector secured him a famous win at an average of 110.727mph, just ahead of McLean’s 110.457mph.
Harrison finished third, with Ian Lougher, Barry Furber, and Michael Sweeney completing the top six. Further back, Conor Cummins, Davey Todd, and newcomer Jeffrey Vermeulen—who posted his first 100mph+ lap—rounded out the leading positions.
Jordan Claims Historic Junior Classic TT
The Historic Junior Classic TT, cut to a single lap due to rain showers, delivered another slice of drama as Paul Jordantook his first ever win on the Mountain Course. Riding the Davies Motorsport Honda, Jordan overcame a strong challenge from Dean Harrison, eventually pulling away to win by nine seconds.
Harrison’s teammate Jamie Coward rounded out the podium in third, while early leader Michael Evans suffered mechanical issues and retired.
By Glen Helen, Evans had surged clear by 7.5s, but his pace was short-lived. At Ballaugh, Jordan hit the front, lapping significantly quicker than his rivals, while Evans was forced out soon after. At Ramsey, Jordan’s advantage over Harrison was 3.2s, and by the Bungalow it had stretched beyond eight seconds.
Harrison was first to take the chequered flag on the road, averaging 103.179mph, but Jordan’s faster pace gave him victory with a lap of 103.890mph.
Behind the top three, a close scrap saw Dan Sayle, Joe Yeardsley, and Adam McLean all finish within 4.4 seconds of one another. The top 10 was completed by Davey Todd, Harley Rushton, Maurizio Bottalico, and Alan Oversby.
Classic TT 2025 Draws to a Close
Friday 29th August marked the conclusion of the 2025 Classic TT, bringing two weeks of racing and festival activity to an end. Despite heroic efforts by organisers, the schedule was heavily disrupted by unsettled weather throughout the week.
Persistent showers created patchy conditions around the Mountain Course, and ultimately the Senior Classic TT was cancelled after Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson deemed conditions unsafe.
In a statement, Thompson praised competitors, volunteers, and marshals for their resilience:
“Every effort was made to give each class the chance to race, but the later showers left the course unpredictable. Safety must always come first. I want to thank the marshals, medics, officials, volunteers, and riders for their patience during what has been a very challenging few days.”
Despite cancellations, the event still provided unforgettable racing and strong attendance. Organisers confirmed that the 2026 Classic TT dates have already been set, part of a wider strategy to grow the event, boost visitor confidence, and ensure long-term sustainability.
The return of the Classic TT has once again underlined its importance as a showcase of heritage racing, blending history with the enduring thrill of the Mountain Course.
