Dunlop smashes records in Isle of Man Formula 1 Classic TT

Michael Dunlop delivered another statement ride at the Classic TT, while Aussie David Johnson secured a strong top five finish

Michael Dunlop MBE rewrote the record book on his way to victory in Sunday afternoon’s three-lap Formula One Classic TT race, the Team Classic Suzuki rider taking the win by 20.5 seconds from Jamie Coward on the Greenall Racing Kawasaki, with Mike Browne third on the Electric Van Company Kawasaki, followed by Harrison and Johnson also on Kawasaki ZXR750s.

Dunlop then made it two wins in a day when he captured the 2026 Lightweight Classic TT race on Sunday afternoon. Riding the Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Honda, he won that race by more than three minutes from Michael Sweeney, with Rhys Hardisty third, and sealed the result with a final lap of 119.081mph. It also gave him back to back Lightweight Classic TT wins.

In the Formula One race, Dunlop set both new lap and race records as he claimed his fifth Formula One Classic TT victory since 2013. His final lap of 129.078mph broke Bruce Anstey’s nine-year-old lap record of 127.496mph, and his overall race time was more than a minute quicker than the previous race mark.

In mixed conditions around the Mountain Course, with grey cloud and sunny skies, the race got underway at 1.45pm, 15 minutes later than scheduled. Browne made the early running and led at Glen Helen on the opening lap by 2.2 seconds from Dunlop, with Dominic Herbertson another 2.7 seconds back in third. Coward, Nathan Harrison and Aussie David Johnson completed the early top six.

By Ballaugh, Browne had increased his lead over Dunlop to 3.3 seconds, while Coward had moved into third in a tightly packed group where third to sixth were covered by only two seconds. Browne was also quickest through the Sulby speed trap at 175.492mph. There was early disappointment elsewhere, with Shaun Anderson retiring at Laurel Bank and Frenchman Amalric Blanc stopping at Greeba Castle.

At Ramsey Hairpin for the first time, Browne’s lead had extended to 3.9 seconds as Harrison moved ahead of Herbertson for fourth. At the end of the opening lap, the compulsory pit stop arrived with Browne still holding the upper hand after a lap of 127.217mph, four seconds clear of Dunlop, who lapped at 126.739mph.

Coward remained third on 126.190mph, just a second ahead of Harrison on 126.072mph, with Herbertson and Johnson next up on 125.325mph and 125.187mph respectively. Brian McCormack, Conor Cummins, Michael Sweeney and Julian Trummer completed the top 10 at that stage, while Peter Hickman was out after retiring in the pits on the WizNorton.

The race changed shape on lap two when Dunlop’s quicker pit stop turned a four-second deficit into a 2.7-second advantage by Glen Helen. Coward was only four seconds further back in third, with Harrison close behind in fourth. Johnson had now moved into fifth as Herbertson slipped to sixth.

Dunlop continued to press home the advantage and stretched his lead over Browne to 5.2 seconds at Ballaugh. By Ramsey, that margin had grown to 9.2 seconds, while Coward had closed to within 3.4 seconds of Browne in the battle for second. Johnson was still holding fifth, just two seconds clear of Herbertson. Further back, Cummins briefly dropped from seventh to 11th before recovering to 10th.

A second lap of 124.734mph gave Dunlop a 14.3-second lead heading onto the final lap. Browne, although now leading on the road, still held second place overall but only by 3.2 seconds from Coward. Harrison and Johnson remained fourth and fifth, while Herbertson’s race ended at the Nook, promoting McCormack to sixth.

At Glen Helen for the final time, Dunlop’s lead had grown to 19.1 seconds. The fight for second was intensifying too, with Coward reducing Browne’s advantage to just 1.1 seconds. By Ballaugh, Coward had made the move stick and was 2.4 seconds clear in the battle for runner-up spot.

There was more drama behind them on the final lap. McCormack fell at Greeba Castle and was reported conscious with a possible leg injury, while Cummins retired at Barregarrow. Former race winner Rob Hodson also failed to finish the race after retiring on the final lap.

Up front, Dunlop delivered the decisive flourish with a sensational final lap of 129.078mph, 13 seconds better than Anstey’s previous lap record, to secure victory by 20.5 seconds. Coward also dipped under the old benchmark with a 128.712mph final lap to take second, and three of the first four finishers bettered the previous lap record.

Browne held on for third and the final podium place after a last lap of 127.477mph, just 8.8 seconds ahead of Harrison, who lapped at 127.692mph. Johnson completed an impressive ride to fifth and also lapped at more than 126mph.

Sweeney came through for sixth, while Trummer, Joe Yeardsley, Paul Williams and Barry Furber completed the top 10.

2026 ISLE OF MAN FORMULA 1 CLASSIC TT