TODD TRIUMPHANT IN THE 2025 RST x D3O SUPERBIKE TT

Words by Phil Wain and images courtesy of IOMTTRaces

Davey Todd won a thrilling four-lap RST x D30 Superbike Race at the Isle of Man TT Races on Monday afternoon. This was his third TT win in total. The Monster Energy by 8TEN Racing BMW Motorrad rider edged out Michael Dunlop (MD Racing BMW Motorrad) by just 1.296 seconds. Dean Harrison (Honda Racing) completed the podium in third place.

The race got underway slightly later than planned at 12:00pm. This was due to two separate diesel spills around the Mountain Course. Todd led through Glen Helen on the first lap, holding a slim advantage of just 0.044 seconds over Harrison. Dunlop was 2.8 seconds further back in third.

The early top six were completed by Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda), Mike Browne (KTS Racing by Stanley Stewart BMW), and James Hind (North Lincs Components Honda). Some regular front-runners like John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, and Josh Brookes found themselves outside the top ten.

Todd’s lead grew to 2 seconds at Ballaugh.

By Ramsey, it had extended to almost 6 seconds. Dunlop had cut the gap to Dean Harrison to just one second. Nathan Harrison remained in fourth, 10 seconds down on Dunlop. Meanwhile, Dominic Herbertson (HRRC/Adam Hewitt Ltd Honda) moved up to fifth ahead of Browne.

An opening lap of 134.275mph gave Todd a 7.8-second advantage over new second-placed rider Dunlop (133.236mph). Dean Harrison (133.051mph) was just one second further back in third. Nathan Harrison officially joined the ‘130mph Club’ after lapping at 131.270mph. Browne (130.748mph) and Herbertson (130.455mph) were still in fifth and sixth respectively.

An opening lap of 134.275mph gave Todd a 7.8s advantage over new second-placed rider Dunlop (133.236).

However, Dean Harrison (133.051) was only one second further back in third. Nathan Harrison officially joined the ‘130mph Club’ after lapping at 131.270mph. Browne (130.748) and Herbertson (130.455) remained in fifth and sixth respectively.

David Johnson (Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki), Brookes (Jackson Racing Honda powered by Prosper2), James Hillier (Muc-Off Racing Honda), and Ian Hutchinson (moobob/MLav Racing BMW) completed the top ten. Hind stopped at the Mountain Box.

Dunlop was quickest to Glen Helen on lap two, cutting Todd’s lead to 5.9 seconds. Dean Harrison lost a further two seconds to Dunlop. Todd extended the margin to 6.2 seconds at Ballaugh, where Harrison slipped another second behind. Nathan Harrison continued strongly in fourth. Herbertson and Johnson moved into fifth and sixth, while Browne dropped back to seventh.

By Ramsey, Todd had stretched his lead to 7.5 seconds.

At the Hairpin, Johnson had taken over fifth, and Hillier had moved into sixth. However, all eyes were on the battle at the front as riders approached the single pit stop.

Todd’s second lap of 133.874mph saw his lead trimmed to 7.1 seconds as Dunlop posted a slightly quicker 133.967mph. Dean Harrison appeared to be falling out of contention, trailing Dunlop by 11.2 seconds after a 132.682mph lap. Nathan Harrison (130.824mph), Johnson (130.603mph), and Brookes (129.887mph) occupied positions four through six. Both Browne and Phil Crowe retired at the pits.

Todd lost time in the pits, and his lead was reduced to 1.8 seconds as he rejoined Glencrutchery Road. The official gap at Glen Helen on lap three was down to 1.5 seconds. However, Todd put in a strong run to Ballaugh, doubling the lead to 3.086 seconds. Unfortunately, he ran wide at Parliament Square. By Ramsey Hairpin, the lead had shrunk to just 1.9 seconds.

The gap was down to 1.1 seconds at the Bungalow. Yet, Todd found some time over the Mountain. Starting the fourth and final lap, his lead stood at 1.9 seconds. Harrison was now 25 seconds back in a comfortable third. Nathan Harrison was also steady in fourth. Johnson held fifth, just four seconds ahead of Hillier. Brookes, now in seventh, was only 1.3 seconds clear of McGuinness (Honda Racing). Meanwhile, Hutchinson, running on the edge of the top ten, retired at the pits.

At Glen Helen for the final time, Todd still led.

However, his advantage was down to just two-tenths of a second. A few miles later, Dunlop passed Harrison at Rhencullen to take the lead on the road. However, Todd responded and extended his lead over Dunlop to 2.2 seconds at Ballaugh.

At Ramsey Hairpin, the pair were separated by 1.9 seconds and 2.2 seconds at the Bungalow. This set up a nail-biting finish. With a final lap of 135.327mph, Todd secured the victory by just 1.296 seconds over Dunlop. Dunlop actually posted a slightly faster final lap at 135.416mph. Harrison completed the podium in third – his 31st TT podium.

Nathan Harrison (131.113mph) claimed a superb fourth place. Johnson (131.097mph) and Hillier (131.285mph) rounded out the top six. Behind them were McGuinness, Brookes, and Michael Evans – who set a new personal best lap of 129.594mph on the Dafabet Racing Honda. Paul Jordan on the second Jackson Racing machine completed the top ten.

Just outside the top ten in 12th was Amalric Blanc. His new personal best lap of 127.726mph reaffirmed his status as the fastest Frenchman around the Mountain Course.