The 2023 Isle of Man TT has been one for the ages. Perfect weather conditions throughout allowed ample practice time, which already suggested lap records would be broken in race week.
Michael Dunlop set the tone with an unofficial lap record of 135.537mph on his Hawk Racing Honda Superbike in practice, having never even done a 134mph before this year. And indeed, the lap times tumbled. The first ever 130mph laps in the Supersport class were registered, both Dunlop – 130.403mph – and Peter Hickman – 130.2mph – did the honours.
The Superbike race record went to Hickman at 135.445mph on an FHO-run BMW that had a broken quickshifter, massive stability problems and braking issues. Then in the second Superstock race on Friday 9 June, Hickman did something truly special – the first ever 136mph lap of the 37.75-mile TT course.
On a stock bike, a BMW M1000RR essentially taken off the showroom floor and with a couple of slick Dunlop tyres chucked on it, Hickman posted a 136.358mph lap on his way to a second win of the week in the class.
All week, aside from the opening Supertwin race, Dunlop and Hickman have been locked in a war with each other. Dunlop dominated the Superbike TT on his Honda, and did the double in the Supersport class. The Superstock class belonged to Hickman, while a shock retirement for Dunlop in the second Supertwin race left the door open for a Hickman win on his embattled R7 Yamaha that had only completed one lap prior to the first Supertwin outing.
That last win came just a few hours after Hickman’s all-time lap record in the Superstock race. And it’s a day that has completely changed the complexion of TT 2023.
Throughout race week, Dunlop got close to, matched and then exceeded TT legend John McGuinness’ tally of 23 career wins. Then he got to 25, putting him one away from the all-time record set by Joey Dunlop – Michael’s legendary uncle, who tragically died in 2000 during a road race in Estonia.
Source: Autosport