A new chapter in Isle of Man motorsport history was written on Monday evening as Rob Hodson secured a magnificent win in the very first running of the Junior 600 Classic TT. The Wigan-based rider put in a dominant performance aboard the Neil Orford Haulage Yamaha, crossing the line with a blistering final lap that set the race benchmark at an average speed of 120.276mph. He finished a comfortable 24.32 seconds clear at the head of the field, but the battle for the remaining podium spots went right down to the wire in a breathless contest that delighted the Mountain Course spectators.
A New Era Begins: The Junior 600 Classic TT
Introduced for the 2026 Classic TT programme, the Junior 600 class is dedicated to the iconic pre-injection 600cc Supersport machines that defined an unforgettable era of road racing during the 1990s. These legendary motorcycles are celebrated for their agile handling, thrilling power delivery and the deep connection they demand between rider and machine — perfectly suited to the twists, turns and undulations of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course. As the first ever winner of the race, Hodson has secured his place in the record books from day one, with his name forever linked to the class as its inaugural champion.
Lights Out: The Race Gets Underway
With near-perfect weather conditions greeting the riders, the scene was set for a memorable encounter. Joe Yeardsley — the quickest man in qualifying and starting from pole position at number one — was the first to reach the Glen Helen checkpoint, but it was Rob Hodson who had already stamped his authority on proceedings, leading the way by 0.756 seconds. In second place sat Michael Russell aboard the Complete Plumbing Solutions Yamaha, with Barry Furber (Robinson Timber Yamaha) slotting neatly into third.
Behind the leading trio the order was already taking shape: Tom Racing’s Tom Robinson occupied fourth place, whilst Yeardsley found himself running in fifth despite his number one starting position. Julien Cregniot completed the early top six, and such was the competitiveness of the field that just seven seconds covered the leading group as they roared away from the opening sector.
Hodson Pulls Clear — Furber Takes Up The Chase
By the time the riders swept through Ballaugh, the picture had changed noticeably. Hodson had stretched his advantage out to 5.9 seconds, moving clear of the pack in impressive style. Behind him, Barry Furber had overhauled Michael Russell to move into second place — albeit by the slenderest of margins, just 0.177 seconds — setting up a fascinating contest for the remaining podium positions.
Also on the move was Marcus Simpson aboard the Duckshaw Racing Kawasaki, who climbed up into fourth place. Yeardsley meanwhile remained in fifth, but was still locked in a thrilling scrap with Simpson, the two rivals separated by barely a tenth of a second. Further back, the battle for sixth was equally tight: just one second covered Tom Robinson, Ryan Whitehall and Timothée Monot, whilst early runner Julien Cregniot had slipped back down the order to ninth.
End of Lap One: Hodson Establishes Command
As the field thundered across the mountain section to complete the opening lap, Rob Hodson had further extended his lead. His opening lap average of 119.589mph gave him a commanding advantage of 10.78 seconds over Barry Furber, who recorded 118.465mph in second place. Michael Russell held third, a further five seconds back at 117.948mph.
Yeardsley had meanwhile moved clear into fourth with a lap of 117.216mph, edging away from Ryan Whitehall (116.775mph) who trailed by 4.3 seconds. Tom Robinson moved back up to sixth place, pushing Marcus Simpson down to seventh despite a solid opening lap from the Manxman at 115.965mph.
Lap Two Drama: Podium Places Go Down to the Wire
The second and final lap brought no respite for the chasing pack as Hodson continued to grind out the seconds. Passing Glen Helen for a second time, his lead had edged out to 11 seconds, whilst behind him the order reshuffled once more. Michael Russell remained third but was now under intense pressure from Yeardsley, who had closed to within just 2.3 seconds and was clearly setting his sights on the final rostrum spot. Ryan Whitehall and Tom Robinson held station in fifth and sixth, though the race lost one of its contenders when Timothée Monot retired at Ballahutchin.
Pressing on towards Ballaugh, Yeardsley made his move and duly overhauled Russell to claim third place. The complexion of the race changed dramatically however as Furber began to suffer fuel supply issues in the closing miles, his pace dropping just enough to bring Yeardsley charging back into contention. Slipping and sliding across the final sectors, Furber grimly hung on, his dwindling advantage vanishing by the checkpoint.
Crossing the line, an exhausted Furber limped home to secure second place — but only just. He held off a fast-finishing Yeardsley by a margin of barely four-tenths of a second, or approximately 50 yards after 75 miles of flat-out racing. Yeardsley, who had set qualifying alight earlier in the week, finished agonisingly close to second, but could take consolation from a magnificent second lap of 120.091mph — also breaking the magical 120mph barrier.
Final Classification and Standout Performances
When all the drama settled, the top six finished as follows:
- Rob Hodson — Neil Orford Haulage Yamaha — 119.936mph average, fastest lap 120.276mph
- Barry Furber — Robinson Timber Yamaha — +24.32s
- Joe Yeardsley — Tony Leach Joinery Yamaha — +24.73s
- Michael Russell — Complete Plumbing Solutions Yamaha
- Ryan Whitehall — Jason Morrow / WR Racing Yamaha
- Tom Robinson — Peter Todd Racing Yamaha
Completing the top ten were Marcus Simpson, Julien Cregniot, Paul Cassidy and Tom Weeden.
A Fitting Start to a New Classic TT Tradition
For Rob Hodson, victory in the inaugural Junior 600 Classic TT is an achievement that will stand forever. Having mastered the conditions, the machinery and a highly accomplished field, he delivered a composed, clinical performance worthy of being the first name on the trophy. With speeds already exceeding 120mph in its very first year, the Junior 600 class has emphatically announced its arrival on the Classic TT schedule — honouring the golden era of 1990s Supersport racing whilst showcasing the very best of the sport’s current talent. If the debut edition is anything to go by, this race is set to become one of the most popular and fiercely contested fixtures of race week for many years to come.
Photos: Isle of Man TT Races
