Honda Racing UK Star Fires in Stunning 135mph Superstock Lap Ahead of Race Week

Qualifying for the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races came to a spectacular conclusion on Friday afternoon as Dean Harrison delivered another commanding display around the Mountain Course, strengthening his position as favourite for the opening races of the week.

After leading every qualifying session across practice week, the Honda Racing UK rider saved arguably his best performance until last. Harrison produced an incredible lap of 135.484mph aboard his Superstock Honda — the fastest Superstock lap of qualifying and one of the quickest laps ever recorded during TT practice.

What made the performance even more remarkable was the fact the lap was completed under short-lap conditions as the session came to an end, meaning Harrison was unable to complete a full flying lap at maximum speed all the way back to the Grandstand.

The final qualifying session confirmed what many inside the paddock had already begun to suspect throughout the week: Dean Harrison and the Honda Racing UK package currently look like the combination everyone else must beat heading into race week.

With the opening three-lap Superstock TT now only hours away, the psychological advantage appears firmly in Harrison’s favour.

Harrison Continues to Dominate Every Session

Honda Rider Carries Huge Momentum Into Race Week

Unlike Friday morning’s earlier session, the majority of riders opted to begin the afternoon on their Superstock machines as teams focused on final setup refinements before Saturday’s opening race.

Michael Dunlop led the field away on the MD Racing BMW, followed by Ian Hutchinson, Josh Brookes and Harrison.

Peter Hickman was one of the few major names to remain on his Superbike machine initially, continuing his efforts to solve handling issues that have affected the 8TEN Racing BMW throughout qualifying week.

From the opening timing sectors, Harrison immediately looked untouchable once again.

By Glen Helen, the Honda rider already held an advantage of more than six seconds over the chasing group, underlining the extraordinary pace he has consistently shown throughout practice week.

Behind him, Dunlop, Hickman, Brookes and Hutchinson were separated by little more than a second, highlighting just how intense the battle for the remaining podium positions could become during race week.

Harrison’s opening lap of 133.549mph placed him comfortably clear at the top of the leaderboard, over 12 seconds faster than Dunlop’s 131.913mph.

Even at this stage, Harrison appeared completely at ease on the Honda Fireblade, carrying immense corner speed while remaining visibly smooth and composed through some of the fastest sections of the course.

Hickman Encounters More BMW Frustrations

Mechanical Problems Continue to Disrupt Preparation

While Harrison continued to build momentum, Peter Hickman’s preparations suffered another frustrating setback.

The 14-time TT winner had looked strong during the opening sectors and was actually gaining time on Harrison between Glen Helen and Ballaugh. However, his session was interrupted when he received a black flag at Parliament Square in Ramsey.

Marshals inspected the BMW after spotting a loose section of the belly pan, forcing Hickman to stop before continuing.

The interruption compounded an already difficult qualifying week for the 8TEN Racing rider, who has openly admitted the Superbike and Superstock machines are still not behaving exactly as he wants around the Mountain Course.

Later in the session, Hickman switched to his Superstock BMW but quickly encountered further issues after running wide at Sulby Bridge before pulling into Ginger Hall.

The body language from the Hickman camp suggested continuing frustration as race week approaches.

Although Hickman remains one of the most naturally gifted riders around the TT course, the lack of consistent setup confidence currently leaves him chasing Harrison rather than dictating the pace.

Harrison’s 135mph Lap Sends Major Statement

Fastest Superstock Pace of Qualifying Week

If there were any lingering doubts about Harrison’s status heading into race week, his second lap removed them completely.

Despite the lap being shortened due to the session ending procedure, Harrison somehow increased his speed to a sensational 135.484mph.

The lap came within just 1.6 seconds of his personal best TT lap set during last year’s Superstock race and immediately became one of the defining moments of qualifying week.

Importantly, the lap was completed in less-than-perfect conditions compared to earlier sessions in the week, with cooler temperatures and changing wind conditions around the Mountain section continuing to challenge riders.

The performance demonstrated not only outright speed, but also remarkable consistency and confidence from both rider and machine.

As rivals searched for solutions and struggled with setup compromises, Harrison appeared increasingly comfortable every time he left pit lane.

Brookes and Hutchinson Show Strong Race Pace

Experienced TT Riders Continue Building Confidence

Although Harrison dominated the headlines, several other riders quietly enjoyed productive final sessions before racing begins.

Josh Brookes delivered his strongest Superstock lap of the week at 132.220mph aboard the DAO Racing Honda, confirming the Australian as a genuine podium contender for Saturday’s race.

Brookes has steadily improved throughout qualifying and now appears increasingly settled with the Honda package around the island.

Ian Hutchinson also continued his encouraging return to competitive pace with another 130mph lap, recording 130.532mph on the Team RST BMW.

The 16-time TT winner has endured a difficult few years due to injuries and setbacks, but his consistency during practice week has been one of the more positive stories inside the paddock.

Jamie Coward joined the growing list of riders above the 130mph barrier with a lap of 130.122mph, an especially impressive achievement after the Rapid Honda team worked late into the week replacing an engine following earlier mechanical problems.

Dunlop Still Searching for Perfect Balance

BMW Setup Work Continues Ahead of Racing

Michael Dunlop once again demonstrated strong pace, but the Northern Irishman continues to search for complete confidence with the MD Racing BMW package.

After his opening lap, Dunlop returned to pit lane for setup changes before heading back out for another run.

His second lap improved slightly to 131.946mph, but it was still clear that Harrison currently holds a noticeable advantage in outright pace.

Even so, dismissing Dunlop would be dangerous.

The 33-time TT winner has repeatedly shown over the years that qualifying pace and race pace are often two very different things around the Isle of Man.

Dunlop’s unmatched racecraft, tyre management and ability to adapt to changing conditions still make him one of the most feared competitors in the paddock once the races officially begin.

Strong Performances Continue Across the Field

International Riders Impress During Final Big Bike Session

Several privateers and international riders also enjoyed strong final sessions around the Mountain Course.

Austria’s Julian Trummer continued another impressive TT campaign with a lap of 127.630mph for the Smith Racing team.

Marcus Simpson maintained his consistent form at 127.334mph, while New Zealand rider Mitch Rees recorded 126.668mph on the Milenco by Padgetts Honda.

Finnish rider Erno Kostamo once again impressed observers with a speed of 125.768mph.

Former Grand Prix rider Gary McCoy also continued adapting brilliantly to the Mountain Course during his debut TT campaign, ending qualifying week with a personal-best lap of 123.370mph.

The Australian’s rapid progression around the island has become one of the standout newcomer stories of TT 2026.

Dunlop Dominates Final Supersport Session

Ducati Rider Reinforces Favourite Status

The final Supersport and Sportbike session of qualifying began at 3:15pm, with many riders eager to complete final setup work before Tuesday’s middleweight races.

Dean Harrison sat out the session after completing enough mileage earlier in the day, leaving the spotlight firmly on Michael Dunlop.

The Scars Racing Ducati rider immediately stamped his authority on the session.

By Glen Helen, Dunlop already held a significant advantage over Hickman, Coward and Brookes, and he continued extending the gap sector by sector around the course.

His opening lap of 128.719mph comfortably secured top position and reinforced his growing status as overwhelming favourite for the Supersport races.

The speed once again highlighted Dunlop’s extraordinary versatility across multiple classes and manufacturers.

Despite switching constantly between Superbikes, Superstock machinery, Supersport bikes and Sportbike entries throughout qualifying week, Dunlop has repeatedly managed to extract elite-level pace almost immediately.

Hickman and Brookes Continue Supersport Progress

British Riders Looking Competitive Behind Dunlop

Peter Hickman secured second place in the session aboard the Swan Racing by PHR Performance Triumph with a lap of 127.301mph.

Although still over 11 seconds slower than Dunlop on corrected time, the lap represented another step forward for Hickman as he continues rebuilding confidence around the course.

Josh Brookes and Jamie Coward also remained competitive, both comfortably running in the mid-125mph range.

Brookes in particular appears increasingly comfortable in the Supersport category and could emerge as an outside podium contender once racing begins.

Ian Hutchinson, Dominic Herbertson and Joe Yeardsley also delivered solid final runs before race week officially starts.

Browne Ends Sportbike Qualifying on Top

Paton Machines Continue To Shine Around the Island

Mike Browne completed another excellent session by topping the Sportbike leaderboard aboard the Melbray/Laycock Racing Paton.

Despite briefly overshooting at Parliament Square during his opening lap, Browne still managed an impressive 120.371mph before improving further to 121.348mph on his second run.

The Paton machines have once again proven highly effective around the Mountain Course, particularly through the technical sections where lightweight agility becomes a major advantage.

Peter Hickman and Jamie Coward slotted into second and third respectively after completing single laps on their Sportbike machinery.

Meanwhile, newcomer Rhys Stephenson continued his steady progress around the island with his best lap of qualifying week at 114.118mph.

Race Week Arrives With Harrison Holding Clear Advantage

After five qualifying sessions and some of the fastest practice laps ever recorded at the Isle of Man TT, the picture at the front of the field is becoming increasingly clear.

Dean Harrison enters race week with momentum, confidence and outright pace firmly on his side in the big bike categories.

Michael Dunlop remains the dominant force in Supersport, while Peter Hickman continues searching for final setup improvements capable of closing the gap.

With weather conditions expected to remain favourable and lap speeds already climbing into record territory, TT 2026 now appears perfectly positioned to deliver one of the fastest and most competitive race weeks in the event’s history.