Tourist Trophy – TT 2013: Michael Dunlop wins in Superbike –

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TT 2013: Michael Dunlop wins in Superbike

Tourist Trophy - TT 2013: Michael Dunlop wins in Superbike -

New Honda TT Legends rider Michael Dunlop won the first Superbike race of the 2013 Tourist Trophy. The late and celebrated nephew Joey beats the Fireblades of Cameron Donald and John McGuinness, who set a new lap record. !

Michael Dunlop’s victory in the Superbike category of the Tourist Trophy was full of emotions: besides the fact that it was for the young rider – just 24 years old! – of her very first victory in the Superbike category, she also officially celebrated the 30 years of the first victory of her uncle Joey on a Honda…

On the occasion of this first race of the TT 2013, the new "King of the Mountain" John McGuinness – on his CBR – wore the same decoration as the legendary Joey Dunlop in 2000, the year of his tragic death during a race in Estonia.

“Discovering my outfit brought back all my memories as a teammate of Joey, when he wore that red and black livery and I was in pink and purple!” Remarked McGuinness, very honored to represent the one who remains the pilot. best known and most successful in this discipline (26 victories including 24 with Honda).

As for Michael, who never had the chance to run against his uncle but was able to compete with his father – before he died in 2008, also racing – and is now fighting his brother William, the shock was during the race itself !

"When I got on the road with John in his special livery it felt weird and I had to do it twice to realize it wasn’t Joey," Michael said after the race..

“John was so fluid, he won the King of the Mountain title, so getting behind him (on the road, but not in the final standings) and following his trajectories was absolutely fantastic. It was a really special moment. ", says the n ° 6 of the Honda TT Legends team, winner of the event having completed the six laps in 1:45 ‘29.980.

Surprised in the pit lane at a slightly excessive speed during the second refueling, John McGuinness was fined 60 seconds and finally finished third in this first race of the Tourist Trophy, one minute and twenty seconds behind his new teammate. within the Honda TT Legends team.

"I cannot win them all", remarks "Monsieur 19 victories" at the "Ti Ti", struck by the heaviness of the penalty, especially since he does not remember having made a mistake … "C ‘is probably my fault and I assume because it is the rule ", concludes McGuinness.

Small consolation for the 41-year-old driver: he set a new lap record during his sixth loop by covering the 60 km of the course in 17’11.572, an average speed of 131.7 miles per hour (mph) or 211, 9 km / h !

Cameron Donald takes advantage of McGuinness’s thoughtlessness to install on the second step his own CBR1000RR Fireblade, prepared by the Wilson Craig Racing team. Honda thus signs a new hat-trick in the category (read)

Guy Martin, who got off to a good start on his GSX-R1000 Tyco, could not keep up to the end and did not hide his disappointment to finish at the foot of the podium: "yes I turned at 130 mph on the first lap, but I was already faster on a Suzuki and even though I had some slips, these Metzellers are very good ".

The “Own Racer” will therefore have to “fine-tune the settings for the Senior”, the second Superbike round which will close the Tourist Trophy 2013 on Friday June 7 (read the). But to get on the podium and aim for a first TT victory, he will also have to take care of himself: "my hands are covered with blisters. It was a really intense fight", concludes the Suzuki rider..

Conor Cummins (Yamaha Milwaukee) completed the Top 5 of this first race by completing, for the first time since his frightful exit from the road in 2010, six consecutive laps on "his" Isle of Man. Credited with a better lap in 129 mph, the Mannois is convinced he can hit 130 mph on a better tuned R1…

Finally, let us mention the superb race of Joshua Brookes who ranks 10th behind top drivers Michael Rutter, James Hillier, Bruce Anstey and William Dunlop. Martin’s teammate smashed the rookie record by completing his sixth lap at an average speed of 127.7 mph…

"I knew this last lap was quick and I really enjoyed it, but this competition is so much more physical than I expected," said the Australian as he got off the bike. "I think I deserve a good beer for that". Cheers !

2013 Tourist Trophy result: Dainese Superbike

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