Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man, UK
June 2, 2014
Supersport TT Race One Results:
1. Gary Johnson (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:12:43.035, 124.526 mph
2. Bruce Anstey (Hon CBR600RR), 1:12:44.537, 124.483 mph
3. Michael Dunlop (Hon CBR600RR), 1:12:54.719, 124.194 mph
4. Dean Harrison (Yam YZF-R6), 1:13:24.646, 123.350 mph
5. William Dunlop (Suz GSX-R600), 1:13:37.324, 122.996 mph
6. Guy Martin (Suz GSX-R600), 1:13:44.591, 122.794 mph
7. James Hillier (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:14:30.983, 121.520 mph
8. Lee Johnston (Hon CBR600RR), 1:14:32.414, 121.481 mph
9. Michael Rutter (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:14:38.907, 121.305 mph
10. Keith Armor (Hon CBR600RR), 1:14:48.288, 121.051 mph
24. Mark Miller (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16:47.848, 117.910 mph
More, from a press release issued by Isle of Man TT Press Office:
GARY JOHNSON IN THRILLING TT TRIUMPH
Gary Johnson took his second TT race win after coming home just 1.5s clear of Bruce Anstey in a thrilling opening Monster Energy Supersport race. Riding the Smiths Triumph, Johnson grabbed the lead on the opening lap. However, the gap to Anstey constantly fluctuated and although the difference was just 0.011s at Cronk ny Mona on the final lap, the Lincolnshire rider grabbed the win to give the British manufacturer their first win since Anstey’s in the same race in 2003.
The race was delayed by three hours due to overnight rain and fog before it finally got underway at 2.05pm and the theme for the race was set at Glen Helen on the opening lap as only 0.009s separated Johnson and Anstey with Dunlop only a further half second back. Dean Harrison was holding onto a good fourth, a position he held jointly with Guy Martin whilst Conor Cummins slotted into sixth.
As the lap progressed, Johnson held the lead by the smallest of margins and with an opening lap of 125.766mph, he was 1.6s clear of Anstey as they headed out onto lap two. Dunlop was still in third but had slipped to three seconds behind with Harrison, Cummins and Martin still filling the top six positions.
By Glen Helen second time around, Anstey was ahead for the first time, albeit by only 0.8s, but it was short lived as Johnson again held the lead by Ramsey his lead now 0.7s. Dunlop had also closed in and only 1.5s separated the three riders as they headed up over the Mountain.
Johnson and the Triumph were up and down quickest and he came into the pits with the fastest lap of the race – 126.732mph – and a lead of 2.4s as Dunlop also fell back, 3.7s behind Anstey. As has happened in so many races though, the Valvoline Racing/Padgetts Honda crew turned their man round the quickest and the gap at Glen Helen on the third lap was back down to just a third of a second.
The lead had extended to 3.8s by Ramsey, Johnson again having a great run from Glen Helen, but with a bit of rain falling over the Mountain, Anstey had brought the gap down to 2.8s down as the riders headed out onto their final lap.
Johnson again proved the quickest to Glen Helen, almost doubling his lead, but Anstey was on a charge and the gap continued to fall throughout the lap. Down to 2.3s at Ramsey Hairpin, the two could barely be separated at the Bungalow or Cronk ny Mona but Johnson wasn’t to be denied and he came home for his second TT win, three years after he won the second Supersport race in 2011.
Dunlop was secure in third but the battle for fourth was in doubt for much of the final lap but when Cummins went out at Ginger Hall, it allowed Harrison to take the position. Team-mates William Dunlop and Guy Martin filled fifth and sixth with James Hillier, Lee Johnston, Michael Rutter and Keith Amor completing the top ten.
Ivan Lintin took an excellent 12th place and was the first privateer home, and he’s surged clear in the TT Privateer’s Championship after the two races held so far. James Cowton (18th), none the worse for his spill in Saturday’s Superbike race, and Russ Mountford (19th) were the second and third privateer’s to finish.
More, from a press release issued by Mar-Train Racing:
FOURTH PLACE FOR HARRISON & MAR-TRAIN RACING ON TT DEBUT
Mar-Train Racing’s full TT debut will be remembered for a fine fourth place, recorded by Bradford’s Dean Harrison in today’s Monster Supersport Race 1 at the 2014 Isle of Man TT. The Northern Ireland based team were the only Yamaha effort in the top ten.
Harrison was in the thick of the action from the opening lap of four; just over a second down on Michael Dunlop at the first check point, after nine miles of racing at Glen Helen on the Mar-Train Yamaha.
He maintained that position to the end of the second lap when he ‘dipped for fuel’ after a 125.541mph effort. A slow pit stop dropped him to sixth at Glen Helen on the penultimate lap of four. But the Bradford lad is made of sterner stuff and fought back admirably taking fourth place in his first TT race with Mar-Train Racing.
Dean said afterwards: “I must have dropped a bit of time in the pits but apart from that the Mar-Train Yamaha was mint. It was a great run and I think we can go quicker on Wednesday. I rode within myself on those first couple of laps and while the other boys mentioned rain – it wasn’t enough to wet the circuit; just spits on my visor and screen. I’m pleased for the Mar-Train team as we beat some top lads out there today.”
Team Principal Tim Martin added: “I’m really pleased for the whole team after our first TT effort ended in a top four. I have to give a special mention to Cliffy and Boost this TT fortnight. It was steady away and we did what was required to stay consistent and have been making small steps all through practice week and into today’s race.
“It really is all about consistency around this place, but I am over the moon with the result and I have to say it’s as satisfying as a win at British championship level. Dean admitted he was maybe a bit timid on the first couple of laps, but he kept it safe and brought it home. It would be nice to go one place higher on Wednesday but we will see what happens.”
Race Result
Winner: Gary Johnson [Triumph] 1:12:43.035sec; 2nd – Bruce Anstey [Honda] +1.5sec; 3rd – Michael Dunlop [Honda] +10sec; 4th – Dean Harrison [Mar-Train Yamaha] +31sec; 5th – William Dunlop [Suzuki] +12sec; 6th – Guy Martin [Suzuki] +7sec.
More, from a press release issued by Smiths Triumph Racing:
Supersport TT Victory For Johnson And Smiths Triumph
The Gloucester based Smiths Triumph Racing Team enjoyed a fairytale debut outing at the Isle of Man TT races today when Gary Johnson took a brilliant win on the Smiths Triumph Daytona 675R in the opening Monster Energy Supersport race by the narrow margin of 1.5 seconds.
The Broughton, Lincolnshire rider, who had topped the leaderboard in practice, took the lead at Glen Helen on the first lap but for the remainder of the four laps; it was nip and tuck all the way round the 37.73-mile Mountain Course as Kiwi Bruce Anstey ensured the race would go right down to the wire.
At the end of lap two, the riders came into the pits for their fuel stop and with the fastest lap of the race, 126.732mph; Gary had opened up a 2.4 second lead. However, the lead constantly fluctuated for the second half of the race with Gary able to extend his lead through sections of the course where he was stronger, only for Anstey to reel him back in on his more favoured sections.
Going into the final lap, Johnson’s advantage was 2.6 seconds and this had almost doubled at Glen Helen, nine miles into the lap. However, Anstey was charging and despite rain falling on the Mountain, he continued to reduce the deficit. With less than two miles to go, the gap was 0.011 seconds but Gary flew over the final section and took the chequered flag by 1.5 seconds to take his second TT win and give Triumph their first victory since Anstey won the corresponding race in 2003.
Team-mate Michael Rutter had a more challenging race with handling difficulties holding him back throughout. Hovering around the bottom end of the top 12 for much of the race, the Bridgnorth, Shropshire rider dug deep and brought the second Smiths Triumph home in ninth place to ensure the team had both of their riders finish inside the top ten.
Gary Johnson: “I think this victory means more to me than the first and the whole Smiths Triumph team have worked so hard. With the Metzeler tyres as well, we had a race-winning combination and having been strong in practice, we were able to do the same in the race and convert it all into the race win. It was tricky over the Mountain with the wet roads and I didn’t gel with the conditions up there but I went hard on the lower part of the course and we got the job done. Full credit to the team, John Trigger gave us some great engines and the bike never missed a beat so I’m delighted.”
Michael Rutter: “I’ve been struggling all week with handling problems and no matter what we’ve tried; we haven’t been able to get to the bottom of it so it’s been frustrating to say the least. The steering damper came right round during the race and I wasn’t comfortable with the wet roads over the Mountain but as the race wore on I got more and more used to the bike and it’s nice to have ended up inside the top ten. I’m really pleased for Gary as he was overdue some good fortune and it was great for him and the team to take the win.”
Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: “If you’d said to me when we started this project six months ago, we’d be standing here with a TT win, I wouldn’t have believed you. Everyone’s worked really hard and Gary and Michael have been the consummate professionals since day one. Gary rode fantastically well, putting in a very mature ride and he’s been at one with the bike ever since he first sat on it. The work we did in pre-season testing, both in terms of getting the bikes ready and the way we all bonded, has really paid dividends. John, Jason, Dan, Steve and Graeme have worked so hard since we’ve been here and it’s just a dream come true to have won a TT at our first attempt.”
Alan Smith, Team Owner: “I’m really pleased for the whole team and Rebecca who’s worked as hard as anyone. It’s also been great to work with different riders to get their view on the bike and to get a good balance on everything. We’re learning and moving forward all the time so to win a TT is brilliant and with Gary getting the better of riders of the calibre of Bruce Anstey and Michael Dunlop; it’s just been a brilliant day.”
The British Championship and TT winning Smiths Triumph Racing Team will next be in action at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, fielding Gary Johnson and Michael Rutter in Wednesday’s second Supersport race
More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist:
Tough Supersport race for McGuinness
The second day of racing at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races proved to be a tough day for Morecambe’s John McGuinness with a combination of his wrist injury and damp roads on the Mountain keeping him back in 15th place in the opening Supersport race.
Held over four laps of the Mountain Course, the race was delayed by over three hours due to overnight rain and fog and an opening lap of 121.706mph on the Valvoline Racing/Padgetts Honda meant John was in the unfamiliar position of 17th place.
Overhauled on the roads by James Hillier, John increased his pace to 122.789mph second time around which moved him up the order to 15th and, with rain falling over sections of the Mountain, here he remained for the rest of the race for another silver replica.
Although the 4-lap Superstock race was moved back to Tuesday afternoon, John was able to complete his day with a practice lap on the Mugen Shinden in preparation for Wednesday’s TT Zero race and posted a stunning lap of 115.60mph, almost 6mph quicker than the class lap record set twelve months ago.
Speaking later, a philosophical John said: “I’m a bit disappointed today and it’s another one I’ve got to take on the chin. I thought I’d be in a stronger position in the Supersport class than I was the Superbike race but it didn’t happen and 15th isn’t a position I’m used to. It just reflects where I am at the moment with my injury. We all want more and I’m struggling a bit with my confidence as well as with the injury so there’s a couple of things getting on top of me.”
“Despite all my years of racing here, it was hard to read the conditions over the Mountain and I couldn’t tell how wet it was. The rain was hitting my visor and screen so I gave it the benefit of doubt and backed off a bit. I thought I may have been able to do a better job today but the lads are riding the 600s so hard now I’m not really sure how I managed to lap at more than 127mph last year! I seem to be going through the motions a bit at the moment but I had an honest race and did the best I could on the day.”
“The Zero bike is a completely different proposition and with it not pulling you all over the place, it’s a joy to ride and reminds me of my 250cc days. It’s an honour and a pleasure to ride the bike and it put a smile back on my face this afternoon. To lap at more than 115mph is amazing and takes us into unchartered territory but there’s still more to come. The progress being made and the leaps forward are astonishing so I’m looking forward to the race on Wednesday.”
Before that though, John will be back in action on Tuesday when he’ll be riding the Valvoline Racing/Padgetts Honda’s in the 4-lap Superstock race.
More, from a press release issued by GB Racing:
SMITHS TRIUMPH racer Garry Johnson won a thrilling Supersport 1 race at the 2014 Isle of Man TT races on Monday 2nd June, making it two wins out of two starts for GBRacing so far.
To cap a perfect day for GBRacing, second place Bruce Anstey on a Padgetts Valvoline Honda and third place Michael Dunlop on a Hunts Honda also use GBRacing protection for their machines, giving a full sweep of the podium.
GBRacing’s Graham Banks said: “That was a very close race between Gary and Bruce and was a brilliant advert for the TT and motorcycle racing. It doesn’t get much better for them or for us; GBRacing is proud to be on the bikes of the leading TT teams and riders.”
Featuring engine, generator and pulse case covers, as well as paddock bobbins, wheel spindles, bullet sliders and lower chain guards, GBRacing protection is made from super-tough purpose-engineered nylon to offer maximum protection in the event of a crash.
The material is specially designed to cope with high impacts and to protect the engine in an accident. The covers are bolt on so can be fitted in minutes and are both oil and scratch resistant so they keep their appearance-enhancing looks.
Computer designed and manufactured in the UK, GBRacing protection is both FIM and MCRCB approved for racing and is the acknowledged leader in crash protection in all the major race paddocks from MotoGP, through WSB, BSB, the Isle of Man TT and Club level at Thundersport GB.
GBRacing’s engine case cover sets cost around £150-£170. Protection is available for a wide range of bikes from Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Triumph, Ducati, BMW, KTM and more.
For more information, to find a local retailer or to purchase then visit www.gbracing.eu.