The final qualifying session for the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races took place on Sunday afternoon, following overnight and morning rain that eventually cleared to allow for a full schedule. Michael Dunlop, hailing from Ballymoney, showcased his prowess by topping the Superbike leaderboard. Riding his MD Racing BMW Motorrad, Dunlop achieved his fastest lap of the week, clocking in at 132.003mph.
In the Superstock category, Conor Cummins led the field with a lap speed of 129.835mph on his Burrows Engineering/RK Racing BMW. Dean Harrison, representing Honda Racing, was the fastest in the Supersport class, recording a lap of 124.736mph. Paul Jordan, aboard the Jackson Racing Aprilia powered by Prosper2, topped the Supertwin class with a speed of 118.584mph. In the Sidecar division, the duo of Ryan and Callum Crowe, driving the Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda, led with a lap speed of 119.337mph.
The day’s schedule was adjusted, with the Sidecars heading out first on the Mountain Course. Despite damp patches remaining in areas such as Greeba Castle, Ballaspur, the 11th Milestone, Kerrowmoar, Glentramman, May Hill, and Ramsey Hairpin, the session commenced with Founds/Walmsley leading the field, followed by Crawford/Hardie, Birchall/Rosney, the Crowes, Blackstock/Lawrence, Ellis/Clement, and the father-and-son team of Gary and Daryl Gibson.
Newcomer George Holden, with experienced passenger Mark Wilkes, opted for a tuned engine during the session. The Crowes made an early impact, reaching Glen Helen 13 seconds ahead of the pack. They achieved the fastest speed through the Sulby speed trap at 162.332mph, culminating in an impressive opening lap of 119.337mph, placing them over half a minute ahead of Founds/Walmsley, who recorded 115.843mph.
Birchall/Rosney (115.198mph), Crawford/Hardie (115.103mph), Blackstock/Lawrence (112.789mph), and Ellis/Clement (111.314mph) completed the top six, with Holden/Wilkes next at 109.838mph. Fellow newcomers Clarke/Johnson (109.769mph) and Kershaw/Gibbons (108.393mph) were close behind.
Several teams made pit stops for adjustments or tyre changes, but Birchall/Rosney, Ellis/Clement, and Gibson/Gibson continued without stopping. Birchall/Rosney achieved their fastest lap of the week at 115.664mph. Clarke/Johnson (113.040mph), Ellis/Clement (112.522mph), Kershaw/Gibbons (110.577mph), and Holden/Wilkes (110.048mph) also delivered strong performances, with both Kershaw/Gibbons and Holden/Wilkes breaking the 110mph barrier for the first time.
Belgian duo Renzo and Vale van der Donckt improved to 107.713mph, while newcomer James Saunders and Sarah Stokoe also advanced on the leaderboard with a speed of 107.691mph. The session was red-flagged shortly afterward due to an incident involving Founds/Walmsley at Rhencullen. Driver Pete Founds was reported to be conscious with arm injuries, and passenger Jevan Walmsley was also conscious with no reported injuries.
Following a brief rain shower, the combined Superbike/Superstock/Supersport session commenced at 4:20pm. Shaun Anderson (Team Classic Suzuki) was first away, followed by Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson (moobob/MLav Racing BMW), and Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing Honda powered by Prosper2).
Dunlop led through all sectors, posting the fastest opening lap at 131.683mph, ahead of Harrison (130.666mph), Davey Todd (129.812mph), Nathan Harrison (129.652mph), Anderson (128.965mph), and Rob Hodson (128.798mph).Brookes also achieved his fastest lap of the week at 128.359mph.
In the Superstock category, Mike Browne led with 129.697mph, followed by Cummins (129.204mph), James Hind (128.946mph), Hutchinson (128.443mph), Jordan (127.710mph), and Michael Evans (127.600mph). James Hillier initially topped the Supersport times at 123.021mph, followed by David Johnson (121.278mph) and Michael Sweeney (120.797mph).
Several riders switched machines after their first laps—Dean Harrison, Brookes, and Hillier among them—returning to the course on Supersport, Superstock, and Superbike machinery, respectively. Cummins remained on his Superstock bike for a second lap, improving to 129.835mph. Hodson also completed another lap on his Superbike, recording 129.135mph. Harrison raised the Supersport benchmark with a 124.736mph lap, edging out Browne (124.272mph) and Evans (123.280mph).
Dunlop, a 29-time TT winner, managed a second lap, delivering a remarkable 132.003mph—his fastest of the week and the quickest of the session.
The final session of the day, for the Supertwins, began at 5pm. Paul Jordan led with 118.584mph, followed by Adam McLean (118.257mph), Barry Furber (117.913mph), Browne (117.302mph), Todd (116.522mph), and Andrea Majola (116.207mph).
Monday, 2nd June, marks the commencement of the 2025 races, starting with the RST x D3O Superbike TT, followed by the 3wheeling.media Sidecar TT Race 1 and the Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1.
Photos: Isle of Man TT Races
