Michael Dunlop Claims Historic 30th TT Win with Comeback Triumph in Supersport TT Race 1
The 2025 Isle of Man TT Race Week, plagued early on by poor weather and schedule disruptions, officially roared to life on Monday with the running of the Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1. In a stunning late charge, Michael Dunlop (Milwaukee MD Racing Ducati) overtook Dean Harrison (Honda Racing) on the final lap to seize victory—marking his 30th career TT win and an astounding 14th in the Supersport class.
This win also marked Dunlop’s first TT victory with Ducati, making it his seventh TT win with a different manufacturer. For Ducati, it was a historic return to the top step of the TT podium, their first win on the Mountain Course since Robert Holden’s 1995 Singles TT triumph. James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki) finished third, claiming his first TT podium since 2019.
A Two-Lap Sprint Packed with Drama
Originally scheduled for three laps, the race was shortened to two due to delays, and it finally got underway at 3:15 p.m. Harrison set the early pace, pulling out a 3.4-second lead by Glen Helen, with Dunlop in second and Hillier 1 second back in third. Davey Todd (myCOOLMAN by Padgetts Honda) trailed Hillier by just 0.5 seconds in fourth. Rounding out the top six were Michael Evans (Smith Racing Triumph) and Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda powered by Prosper2).
At Ballaugh, Harrison stretched his lead to 4.6 seconds, with Hillier losing time to Dunlop but narrowly holding onto third over Todd by just 0.033 seconds. Evans remained solid in fifth ahead of Jordan.
At Ramsey Hairpin, Harrison extended his margin to 7.4 seconds, while Hillier and Todd continued their close duel, both clocking over 125mph laps. Evans and Mike Browne (Boyce Precision by Russell Racing Yamaha) were locked in a battle for fifth. Jordan retired at Glentramman, promoting Browne to sixth.
Dunlop Turns the Tide in Lap Two
Lap two saw momentum shift. At Glen Helen, Harrison’s lead dropped to 6.4 seconds. Dunlop then began his charge, setting a series of fastest sector times and closing the gap to 4 seconds by Ramsey Hairpin with personal bests through Ballaugh and the Mountain section.
Hillier solidified his third-place position, building a cushion over Todd, who came under pressure from Josh Brookes. The Australian rider climbed into fifth, overtaking both Evans and Browne. Evans retired at Stella Maris with mechanical issues, while Browne crashed at Sulby Bridge (uninjured), ending both their races.
Final-Lap Heroics: Dunlop Surges to 30
Entering the final lap, Dunlop had trimmed the lead to 2.9 seconds. At Glen Helen, that gap fell to just 0.8 seconds, and by Ballaugh Bridge, Dunlop surged into the lead by a mere 0.104 seconds. From there, he continued to push at lap-record pace, extending the margin to 3.4 seconds at Ramsey and even further at the Bungalow.
Crossing the line with a final lap of 130.313mph, Dunlop secured his 30th TT victory by 10.2 seconds, a career milestone that further cements his status as one of the all-time greats.
Harrison held on for a strong second place, while Hillier’s steady ride earned him a long-awaited return to the TT podium. Todd and Brookes continued their head-to-head battle to the end, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Rob Hodson took sixth, followed by James Hind, Dom Herbertson (HRRC/Gilbert Brown & Son Ltd Ducati), Ian Hutchinson, and Conor Cummins (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Ducati) completing the top 10.