From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Day five Isle of Man TT Festival. June 7, 2003

Lougher and VTR third in Senior TT

Adrian Archibald ended the Isle of Man TT Racing Festival as he began, on a winning note. The 30 year old Ulsterman powered to victory in the delayed ‘blue-riband’ event, run over the shortened distance of four laps ahead of John McGuinness and Honda’s Ian Lougher.

The race, held over from Friday because of low cloud and fog, was twice delayed before race officials managed to get it underway on Saturday afternoon, with McGuinness heading the action on the first lap, but only just, as Lougher tucked in behind him, running just a tenth of a second down after the first eight miles.

Archibald was split second down in third, but hot on the charge, and by Ballaugh Bridge, he was upto second place and pressurising McGuinness who lost his slender advantage on the high speed section into Ramsey.

The TAS Suzuki rider, who had taken the opening ‘big-bike’ TT Formula One race the previous Saturday was powering relentlessly on, and by the end of the first lap, which he covered at an average speed of 126.02mph, he was three seconds clear.

He increased his speed next time around, covering the 37.73 mile Mountain Course in a scorching time of 17:51.40s to be leading McGuinness by ten seconds as they headed into the half-distance fuelling stops, with Lougher holding a comfortable third place ahead of Jason Griffiths and Bruce Anstey.

Archibald, sensing the bonus of £10,000 and the Joey Dunlop Trophy that goes to the top rider in the two prestigious Superbike events, was in no mood to let up, and he set a furious pace as he rejoined the action, mile by mile extending his advantage, and taking the victory by some 21 seconds.

“That was great race to win, the perfect ending to my week. I knew that I had to go for it from the start because McGuinness is always a hot runner, but once I was ahead, it all fell into place. The bike was good, and the run problem free apart from the last lap, when the winds were strong over the mountain and I was blown across the road,” Archibald explained.

McGuinness admitted: “I made a couple of errors and over-ran in Parliament Square in Ramsey, and for various reasons, I feel a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders now the Senior race is over. I am happy with the postions and will be back for more next year.”

Third place went to Lougher, who might have failed to add to his six race winning pedigree on the Island, but was enjoying his fifth top five finish of the week, and the twentieth of his TT career. “I couldn’t get into the rhythm after an early battle on the road with Ryan Farquhar.”

Jason Griffiths took fourth place, ahead of Farquhar with Kiwis Shaun Harris and Bruce Anstey just adrift.

Results – Isle of Man TT Senior race – four laps

1. Adrian Archibald, Suzuki, 1:12:42.9
2. John McGuinness, Ducati, 1:13:03.7
3. Ian Lougher, Honda, 1:13:29.5
4. Jason Griffiths, Yamaha, 1:13:44.1
5. Ryan Farquhar, Suzuki, 1:14:00.1
6. Shaun Harris, Suzuki, 1:14:15.0
7. Bruce Anstey, Suzuki, 1:14:25.8
8. Richard Britton, Suzuki, 1:14:45.2
9. Mark Parrett, Kawasaki, 1:15:15.1
10. Gary Carswell, Suzuki, 1:16:06.3