Honda Star on Course for Victory as Milwaukee Senior TT Is Abandoned
Dean Harrison looked destined to claim his second victory of the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races before the Milwaukee Senior TT was dramatically brought to a halt by a red flag on Friday evening.
The Honda Racing UK rider had established a commanding advantage at the front of the field and was producing lap times that threatened the outright TT lap record when race officials were forced to stop the contest following an incident at the 11th Milestone.
At the time of the stoppage, Harrison held a lead of more than 14 seconds over Peter Hickman and was running approximately two seconds inside the existing outright lap record pace, setting up what could have been one of the fastest laps ever recorded around the famous 37.73-mile Mountain Course.
However, with less than half of the scheduled race distance completed, regulations prevented organisers from declaring a result, leaving the prestigious Senior TT without a winner on Friday evening.
Senior TT Delivers Early Drama
Harrison Makes Immediate Statement
After a delayed TT schedule throughout much of race week, the blue-riband Senior TT eventually got underway at 6:25pm under improving conditions.
From the opening sectors, Harrison showed exactly why many considered him one of the pre-race favourites.
The Honda rider immediately established himself at the head of the field, arriving at Glen Helen on the opening lap with a 4.1-second advantage over Peter Hickman aboard the Monster Energy BMW Motorrad by 8TEN Racing machine.
Behind the leading duo, Ian Hutchinson held third place for Team RST BMW, while Josh Brookes slotted into fourth on the DAO Racing Honda.
Michael Dunlop, fresh from adding further victories to his remarkable TT record earlier in the week, found himself in fifth position during the early stages, although the margins throughout the leading group remained extremely tight.
David Johnson’s strong start aboard the Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki placed him sixth, while just two seconds covered riders from sixth through to twelfth.
Harrison Extends His Lead Around the Course
Fastest Man on the Road from the Start
As the riders swept through Ballaugh and into the northern section of the circuit, Harrison continued to increase his advantage.
By Ballaugh Bridge, the Honda Racing UK rider had stretched his lead over Hickman to 6.7 seconds, immediately underlining the pace he was carrying.
The battle behind began to intensify as Josh Brookes moved into third place, edging ahead of Ian Hutchinson by the narrowest of margins. Michael Dunlop remained firmly in contention in fifth, while Jamie Coward climbed into sixth position.
At Ramsey, Harrison’s lead had grown further to 7.8 seconds. Brookes remained third but now found himself more than eight seconds behind Hickman, while Hutchinson and Dunlop continued their pursuit.
The pace at the front was relentless, with Harrison appearing increasingly comfortable as the lap progressed.
Record-Breaking Pace Emerges
Harrison Threatens Outright TT Benchmark
The climb across the Mountain section often determines the outcome of Senior TT races, and Harrison used the iconic section of road to strengthen his grip on the event.
His opening lap average speed of 135.166mph was a clear indication of the pace he was carrying.
That lap gave him a substantial 12.4-second lead over Hickman, whose own impressive 133.510mph lap would have been enough to lead many previous TT races.
Josh Brookes continued to impress in third position with a lap of 132.775mph, narrowing the gap to Hickman slightly as the race entered its second lap.
Ian Hutchinson held fourth place, while Michael Dunlop and Jamie Coward rounded out the top six.
The lap speeds demonstrated just how favourable conditions had become around the Mountain Course compared to earlier in the week, with several riders operating at speeds close to all-time TT benchmarks.
Harrison Pushes Even Harder on Lap Two
Senior TT Favourite In Complete Control
Far from easing his pace, Harrison continued to attack during the second lap.
At Glen Helen for the second time, his lead had increased to 14.3 seconds.
The Honda rider appeared fully committed to establishing an unassailable advantage and potentially rewriting the TT record books in the process.
Behind him, Hickman had strengthened his grip on second place and increased his advantage over Brookes to more than nine seconds.
Further back, Hutchinson, Dunlop and Coward maintained their positions, while an intense battle developed behind them.
Only a handful of seconds separated Jamie Coward, David Johnson, Nathan Harrison, John McGuinness and Conor Cummins in a closely fought contest for the remaining top-ten places.
Yet all attention remained focused on Harrison’s extraordinary pace at the front.
Lap Record Under Serious Threat
Honda Rider Producing One of the Fastest TT Performances Ever
As Harrison approached Ramsey on his second lap, timing screens suggested he was on course to challenge one of the most significant records in modern TT racing.
His pace was approximately two seconds inside the outright lap record set by Peter Hickman in 2023, a benchmark widely regarded as one of the most remarkable achievements ever recorded around the Mountain Course.
The possibility of a new outright lap record added another layer of excitement to what was already shaping up to be a classic Senior TT performance.
Many observers believed Harrison was in complete control of the race and heading towards a memorable victory.
Unfortunately, the race would never reach its conclusion.
Red Flag Brings Senior TT to an Abrupt End
Incident at 11th Milestone Forces Stoppage
Shortly after Harrison passed Ramsey during his second lap, race officials displayed the red flag following an incident at the 11th Milestone.
For safety reasons, the race was immediately stopped.
As less than 50 per cent of the scheduled race distance had been completed, TT regulations prevented organisers from declaring a result.
That meant Harrison’s dominant performance, despite his substantial lead and record-breaking pace, would not count as a race victory.
The decision was entirely in line with TT sporting regulations, which require a minimum race distance to be completed before an official classification can be confirmed.
Senior TT Rescheduled for Saturday
Organisers Revise Final Race Weekend Timetable
Following the abandonment, organisers quickly confirmed a revised race schedule.
The Milwaukee Senior TT has been rescheduled for Saturday at 12:00pm, where riders will once again compete for victory in the event regarded as the most prestigious race of the TT fortnight.
The rearranged schedule will then be followed by the second Carole Nash Sportbike TT race later in the day.
Race officials also reviewed updated weather forecasts, which now indicate deteriorating conditions for Sunday, including heavy showers and low cloud across parts of the island.
As a result, the contingency period previously reserved for Sunday will not be used.
Superstock TT Race 2 Cancelled
Weather Constraints Force Difficult Decision
The revised timetable has also resulted in the cancellation of the RL360 Superstock TT Race 2.
With limited weather windows remaining before the conclusion of the 2026 event, organisers concluded there was insufficient time to safely accommodate the race within the remaining schedule.
While disappointing for competitors and fans alike, the decision reflects the ongoing challenges presented by weather throughout this year’s TT.
The Isle of Man TT remains one of the most weather-dependent events in world motorsport, with safety considerations always taking priority when conditions become uncertain.
Harrison Remains the Favourite Heading Into Restart
Honda Rider Will Look to Finish What He Started
Although Friday’s race ended without a result, Dean Harrison’s performance sent a clear message to his rivals.
The Honda Racing UK rider was unquestionably the fastest man on the Mountain Course before the stoppage, combining outright speed with consistency and confidence throughout both laps.
Whether he can replicate that form when the Senior TT restarts on Saturday remains to be seen, but based on Friday’s evidence, Harrison will begin the rescheduled race as one of the strongest contenders for victory.
For now, fans are left wondering what might have been after one of the most impressive displays of speed seen during the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races was cut short before its conclusion.
