DUNLOP TOPS THE LEADERBOARD IN FINAL QUALIFYING SESSION OF TT 2025
Words by Phil Wain and images courtesy of IOMTTRaces
Sunday afternoon saw the final qualifying session take place for this year’s Isle of Man TT Races. After overnight and morning rain cleared, Michael Dunlop finally showed his hand. The Ballymoney rider topped the Superbike leaderboard aboard his MD Racing BMW Motorrad machine. He set his fastest lap of the week at 132.003mph.
Elsewhere, Conor Cummins was quickest in the Superstock class with a 129.835mph lap on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing BMW. Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison led the Supersport runners with a 124.736mph effort. Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Aprilia powered by Prosper2) went to the top in the Supertwin class at 118.584mph. Meanwhile, Ryan and Callum Crowe (Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda) topped the Sidecar leaderboard at 119.337mph.
A change to the schedule saw the Sidecars head out first on the Mountain Course.
Damp patches remained at locations including Greeba Castle, Ballaspur, the 11th Milestone, Kerromoar, Glentramman, May Hill, and Ramsey Hairpin. The session got underway with Founds/Walmsley leading the field out. They were followed by Crawford/Hardie, Birchall/Rosney, the Crowes – who were bedding in a new chain – Blackstock/Lawrence, Ellis/Clement, and father-and-son duo Gary and Daryl Gibson.
Newcomer George Holden, with experienced passenger Mark Wilkes, opted to run a tuned engine for the session. However, it was the Crowes who made the early running, reaching Glen Helen some 13 seconds ahead of the pack. Aided by the fastest speed through the Sulby speed trap at 162.332mph, they posted a commanding opening lap of 119.337mph. This pace put them more than half a minute clear of Founds/Walmsley (115.843mph).
Newcomer George Holden, with the experienced Mark Wilkes in the chair, had opted to fit a tuned engine for the session. But it was the Crowes who were quickest to Glen Helen, by some 13s. Aided by the quickest speed through the speed trap, 162.332mph, their opening lap of 119.337mph put them more than half a minute clear. This performance left Founds/Walmsley trailing at 115.843mph.
Birchall/Rosney (115.198mph), Crawford/Hardie (115.103mph), Blackstock/Lawrence (112.789mph) and Ellis/Clement (111.314mph) completed the top six, with Holden/Wilkes next on 109.838mph. Fellow newcomers Clarke/Johnson (109.769mph) and Kershaw/Gibbons (108.393mph) weren’t far behind.
Several crews came into the pits for adjustments or tyre changes.
But Birchall/Rosney, Ellis/Clement, and Gibson/Gibson continued straight through. Birchall/Rosney recorded their fastest lap of the week at 115.664mph. Clarke/Johnson (113.040mph), Ellis/Clement (112.522mph), Kershaw/Gibbons (110.577mph), and Holden/Wilkes (110.048mph) also impressed. Both Kershaw/Gibbons and Holden/Wilkes broke the 110mph barrier for the first time.
Belgian duo Renzo and Vale van der Donckt improved to 107.713mph. Newcomer James Saunders and Sarah Stokoe also moved up the leaderboard at 107.691mph. The session was red-flagged shortly afterward due to an incident involving Founds/Walmsley at Rhencullen. Driver Pete Founds was reported to be conscious with arm injuries. Meanwhile, passenger Jevan Walmsley was also reported as conscious with no reported injuries.
Following a brief rain shower, the combined Superbike/Superstock/Supersport session got underway at 4:20pm. Shaun Anderson (Team Classic Suzuki) was first away. He was followed by Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson (moolab/MLav Racing BMW), and Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing Honda powered by Prosper2).
Dunlop was quickest through all sectors and posted the fastest opening lap at 131.683mph.
He was ahead of Harrison (130.666mph), Davey Todd (129.812mph), Nathan Harrison (129.652mph), Anderson (128.965mph), and Rob Hodson (128.798mph). Additionally, Brookes set his fastest lap of the week at 128.359mph.
In the Superstock category, Mike Browne led the way at 129.697mph. He was ahead of Cummins (129.204mph), James Hind (128.946mph), Hutchinson (128.443mph), Jordan (127.710mph), and Michael Evans (127.600mph). James Hillier topped the Supersport times early on at 123.021mph. He was followed by David Johnson (121.278mph) and Michael Sweeney (120.797mph).
Several riders switched machines after their first laps. Dean Harrison, Brookes, and Hillier returned to the course on Supersport, Superstock, and Superbike machinery respectively. Cummins stayed out for a second lap on his Superstock bike and improved to 129.835mph. Hodson also went again on his Superbike and lapped at 129.135mph. Harrison raised the Supersport benchmark with a 124.736mph lap. He edged out Browne (124.272mph) and Evans (123.280mph).
But all eyes were on Dunlop.
The 29-time TT winner managed to get out for a second lap. He delivered a stunning 132.003mph – his fastest of the week and the quickest of the session.
The final session of the day, for the Supertwins, got underway at 5pm. Paul Jordan led the way at 118.584mph. He was followed by Adam McLean (118.257mph), Barry Furber (117.913mph), Browne (117.302mph), Todd (116.522mph), and Andrea Majola (116.207mph).
Monday 2nd June will see the first races of 2025 get underway. The RST x D3O Superbike TT will start the race action, followed by the 3wheeling.media Sidecar TT Race 1 and the Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1.