Michael Dunlop’s historic run at the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races gained even more momentum on Friday evening as the Ballymoney rider stormed to his fourth win of the week — and 33rd career TT victory — in the Entire Cover Insurance Supertwin TT. In a masterclass performance aboard his MD Racing Paton, Dunlop led from the front and never relinquished control, ultimately crossing the line with a commanding advantage of 26.775 seconds over Davey Todd, while Dominic Herbertson clinched a well-earned third. Dunlop also obliterated the lap record, clocking an astonishing final lap average of 123.056 mph.
Under a golden evening sun, the race got underway at 6:00 PM, set over three laps of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course. From the first sector at Glen Helen, Dunlop stamped his authority on the race, edging out a 3-second gap over his closest rival, Todd, riding the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Paton. Behind them, Adam McLean was looking strong in third on the Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Yamaha, while Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Paton), Herbertson (Melbray Racing Paton), and Mike Browne (KMR/Jack Reid Cars Kawasaki) rounded out a fiercely competitive front pack. One early shock saw Michael Evans, runner-up in the earlier Supertwin race, retire his Dafabet Racing Kawasaki at Glen Helen before completing even the first sector.
By Ballaugh, Dunlop had added two more seconds to his lead. Meanwhile, the midfield battle was heating up — Browne edged past McLean, but both were quickly overtaken by the charging Hodson and Herbertson, creating a tense five-way dice for the remaining podium spot with just five seconds covering third through sixth.
When the frontrunners reached Ramsey Hairpin, Dunlop’s lead had grown to nine seconds. Hodson, riding with visible determination, had reeled in Todd and sat just two-tenths behind in a tight scrap for second. Browne had moved into fourth, displacing Herbertson, but the pair remained locked in a close battle, McLean not far behind in sixth.
As Dunlop continued to stretch his lead through every timing sector, he completed the opening lap at an average speed of 121.664 mph — enough to build a 12-second cushion over Todd, who responded with a solid 120.361 mph. Hodson followed closely behind at 119.684 mph, with Browne, Herbertson, and McLean all lapping within 0.25 mph of him. The pack was tight, and the race was wide open behind Dunlop.
Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing/Prosper2 Aprilia), Barry Furber (DC Motorcycles Yamaha), Michael Rutter (Bathams AJN Yamaha), and rising talent Joe Yeardsley (Scott Racing Aprilia) rounded out the top ten after the first lap.
Despite a sluggish pit stop that cost him around six seconds, Dunlop rebounded quickly. By the time the leaders reached Glen Helen again, he’d reasserted a 9.5-second gap over Todd. Hodson was on a charge as well, having put daylight — 4.4 seconds — between himself and the ever-tightening contest for fourth, where Herbertson had moved ahead of McLean and Browne, though there was barely a second between them.
A blistering sector from Glen Helen to Ballaugh gave Dunlop another boost, widening his lead to 12.1 seconds. That margin crept up further to 14.6 seconds by Ramsey on the second lap. Meanwhile, Hodson was still holding third, looking increasingly secure — until disaster struck. Shortly after the Gooseneck, mechanical issues forced him to retire, ending his podium hopes just as they looked to be within reach.
With one lap to go, Dunlop looked unshakeable at the front, his lead sitting at a comfortable 14.5 seconds. Todd, firmly in second, was in no danger from behind. Herbertson had inherited third, but still had work to do, with Browne trailing by only 3.8 seconds. McLean remained in the mix, just 1.6 seconds further behind.
On the final tour of the Mountain Course, Dunlop was not backing down. He was on a mission to rewrite the record books, setting a new best sector from the Grandstand to Glen Helen. Herbertson was also pushing hard, extending his advantage over Browne to more than six seconds through the same stretch. The group behind — Browne, McLean, Jordan, and Furber — were still locked in a thrilling battle separated by less than four seconds.
Dragging Paul Jordan along in his slipstream, Dunlop continued his relentless pace and shattered the Supertwin lap record, averaging 123.056 mph on his final lap — a stunning achievement on a Supertwin machine. It sealed his 33rd TT victory and further cemented his status as one of the greatest road racers of all time.
Herbertson held off a charging Jordan for third by just three seconds, finishing with a lap of 121.370 mph. Jordan, however, had much to be proud of, having clocked his fastest lap yet at 121.899 mph. Browne finished a solid fifth with a 120.791 mph lap, just ahead of McLean at 120.397 mph. Barry Furber joined the 120 Club for the first time with a 120.347 mph effort, earning seventh place and his best TT finish to date.
Rounding out the top ten were Yeardsley, Czech veteran Michal Dokoupil (Indi Racing Aprilia), and Ireland’s Michael Sweeney (MSR Racing Aprilia), all putting in solid performances on a perfect night for racing.
Insight and Impact:
Dunlop’s triumph in the Supertwin class not only adds another trophy to his already staggering collection but also showcases his technical mastery and adaptability. Riding the nimble Paton to a new class record underscores his ability to get the maximum out of any machine — especially in an era of increasing parity between teams.
Davey Todd’s steady performance, while not enough to challenge Dunlop this time, confirms his consistency and growth as one of the sport’s top contenders. Meanwhile, Herbertson’s second podium at the TT shows he’s firmly in the upper ranks of the Supertwin elite.
Behind them, a new wave of talent is continuing to rise. Riders like Jordan, Yeardsley, and Furber are showing not just pace but maturity under pressure — a promising sign for the future of road racing.
Photos: Isle of Man TT Races
