Ballymoney’s Michael Dunlop took his 20th Isle of Man TT victory in Monday’s Supersport race one, crossing the line with a 5.6s margin over Dean Harrison with Peter Hickman third.

Dunlop, on the Carl Cox Yamaha, put in a 129.47mph on his final lap to take victory and set a new record in a race where he was never headed but some fast sectors - including a new record to Glen Helen of 4’19.571 - from DAO Kawasaki’s Harrison - who switched to Metzeler tyres this morning - kept him honest.

It was the first time Hickman had ridden the 765cc Triumph in a race on the island and was able to take the final podium spot which was given up by Lee Johnston after a long stop on lap one ruled him out of contention.

The race was run over three laps instead of the usual four so Saturday’s red-flagged Sidecar can be squeezed in before the three-lap Superstock race at 3pm.

There was little to choose between Dunlop and Harrison throughout the three laps, the gap between the two at one stage was a mere one tenth of a second, but the Northern Irishman edged away on the final lap to become just the third rider after Uncle Joey and John McGuinness to win 20 TT races.

Hickman on the K2 Trooper Beer by PHR Peformance bike got the verdict for third after a close battle with Johnston (Ashcourt Racing Yamaha) and James Hillier (Rich OMG Yamaha).

Through Glen Helen on the opening lap, nine miles into the course, and it was Dunlop who led Johnston by half a second with Harrison just a tenth of a second further back. Hickman slotted into fourth, 0.7 seconds behind Harrison, and it was Hillier and Conor Cummins (Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles) who rounded out the early top six as less than ten seconds covered the top ten.

Dunlop had extended his lead by the time he jumped Ballaugh Bridge and as he rounded Ramsey Hairpin, where a number of damp patches remained after overnight rain, the gap had crept out to 2.5 seconds. It was now Harrison in second place with his advantage over good friend Johnston a slender 1.2 seconds. It was getting close for third though as Hickman was now less than a second adrift of Johnston. Hillier and Cummins were holding station in fifth and sixth.

All riders made their mandatory pit stop at the end of the opening lap and a speed of 126.92mph meant Dunlop continued to lead – Harrison had reduced it to 1.8 seconds at the Bungalow but Dunlop responded and at the Grandstand, it was back up to 3.2 seconds. Johnston was only 1.5 seconds behind Harrison and he, in turn, had eked out a gap of 2.1 seconds over Hickman. Hillier and Cummins were still in fifth and sixth with Coward giving chase in seventh.

Paul Jordan was going well in tenth with James Hind 13th, Michal Dokoupil 14th and Mike Browne 15th but Jordan was then hit with a penalty for speeding in pit lane.

As always, the pit stops had an effect on the positions and although Dunlop still led at Glen Helen, the gap over Harrison was back down to 1.6 seconds. Hickman and Hillier had both moved up a place to third and fourth respectively and it was Johnston who suffered most as he slipped back to fifth.

Harrison was doing all he could and at Ballaugh, he’d managed to reduce Dunlop’s advantage to less than a second but Dunlop responded and added another half second to his lead as he rounded Ramsey Hairpin for the second time. They were more than 11 seconds clear of third which was now occupied by Hillier with the Yamaha man having overhauled Hickman to the tune of 1.2 seconds.

The gap between the leading two riders remained the same at the Bungalow and as they started their third and final lap it was only 1.2seconds. The battle for third was even tighter with just a tenth of a second between Hillier and Hickman! Johnston and Cummins were holding onto fifth and sixth but Coward was closing in on the latter and was only 2.8 seconds adrift.

The race was now essentially a one-lap shootout and at Glen Helen it was down to a minuscule 0.14s, Dunlop continuing to hold sway – Hickman was back up to third though, having turned his deficit to Hillier into a 2.4 seconds advantage.

Dunlop added two tenths of a second to his lead over Harrison as he leapt Ballaugh Bridge and the race for third was now a three-rider battle with less than six seconds covering Hickman, Hillier and Johnston. Coward had also cut the gap to Cummins to 0.4s in the battle for sixth.

All eyes were on Dunlop and Harrison though and the Ulsterman had stretched his lead to 2.6s at Ramsey having had the better run through the bumps after Ginger Hall so could he hold on as he made the Mountain climb for the last time?

The answer was yes and a final lap speed of 129.475mph, a new lap record, enabled him to get the win by 5.6s, and it was Hickman who prevailed for the final podium position, 3.5 seconds ahead of Johnston with Hillier having to settle for fifth.

Coward got the better of Cummins for sixth to continue his good start to this year’s TT and it was Cummins, Dominic Herbertston and Ian Hutchinson who completed the top ten. Jordan took 11th with James Hind having a great ride into 12th ahead of Rob Hodson, Michael Sweeney and Mike Browne.

Monster Supersport race one - conditions dry

1 6 Michael Dunlop Yamaha YZF-R6 MD Racing 53:31.953 126.865 Silver
2 2 Dean Harrison Kawasaki ZX-6R DAO Racing Kawasaki 53:37.571 126.643 Silver
3 10 Peter Hickman Triumph Daytona 765 K2 Trooper Beer by PHR Performance 54:07.008 125.495 Silver
4 3 Lee Johnston Yamaha YZF-R6 Ashcourt Racing 54:10.555 125.358 Silver
5 5 James HIllier Yamaha YZF-R6 RICH Energy OMG Racing 54:17.625 125.086 Silver
6 12 Jamie Coward Yamaha YZF-R6 KTS Racing powered by Steadplan 54:34.848 124.428 Silver
7 11 Conor Cummins Honda CBR600RR Milenco by Padgett's Motorcycles 54:38.641 124.284 Silver
8 8 Davey Todd Honda CBR600RR Milenco by Padgett's Motorcycles 55:10.529 123.087 Silver
9 16 Dominic Herbertson Kawasaki ZX-6R Cowton Racing 55:31.858 122.299 Silver
10 4 Ian Hutchinson Yamaha YZF-R6 Boyce Precision by Russell Racing 55:35.446 122.168 Silver
11 17 Paul Jordan Yamaha YZF-R6 PreZ Racing by Prosper² 55:51.711 121.575 Silver
12 14 James Hind Yamaha YZF-R6 Bass Tyre Services 56:04.044 121.129 Silver
13 25 Rob Hodson Yamaha YZF-R6 Dafabet Racing 56:15.114 120.732 Bronze
14 13 Michael Sweeney Yamaha YZF-R6 EM Building 56:15.163 120.730 Bronze
15 15 Mike Browne Yamaha YZF-R6 Burrows Engineering / RK Racing 56:22.431 120.471 Bronze
16 7 Gary Johnson Triumph Daytona 675 Moto46 / Specsavers 56:25.295 120.369 Bronze
17 26 Michal Dokoupil Yamaha YZF-R6 Rock Net 56:37.599 119.933 Bronze
18 34 Shaun Anderson Honda CBR600RR Wilcock Consulting 56:45.051 119.670 Bronze
19 1 John McGuinness Honda CBR600RR SMT Racing/Blue Earth Construction 56:47.513 119.584 Bronze
20 20 Craig Neve Kawasaki ZX-6R Alasdair Cowan Racing 56:57.424 119.237 Bronze
21 27 Nathan Harrison Honda CBR600RR Quayside Tyres / Chris Preston 57:14.414 118.647 Bronze
22 19 Brian McCormack Triumph Daytona 765 Global Robots PHR performance 57:41.937 117.704 Bronze
23 35 Matt Stevenson Yamaha YZF-R6 Ken Rodney Construction 57:49.948 117.432 Bronze
24 28 Pierre Yves Bian Kawasaki ZX-6R Martimotos 57:53.533 117.311 Bronze
25 32 Chris Sarbora Kawasaki ZX-6R Moto-hub.co.uk 57:54.015 117.295 Bronze
26 29 Julian Trummer Yamaha YZF-R6 WH Racing powered by Dynobike 58:01.516 117.042 Bronze
27 22 Phillip Crowe Yamaha YZF-R6 Truelove Racing 58:01.568 117.040 Bronze
28 41 Raul Torras Martinez Yamaha YZF-R6 Ecubitt Performance, Comercial Olle 58:11.447 116.709 Bronze
29 23 Joey Thompson Honda CBR600RR Wilson Craig Racing 58:41.593 115.710 Bronze
30 24 Tom Weeden Yamaha YZF-R6 Tom Weeden Racing 58:52.582 115.350 Bronze
31 53 Rhys Hardisty Yamaha YZF-R6 Kaymac / The People's Bike 38:54.197 116.381 Bronze
32 56 Michael Russell Suzuki GSX-R600 TRUE HEROES RACING 39:15.156 115.345 Bronze
33 47 Matthew Rees Kawasaki ZX-6R Barrett 39:16.326 115.288 Bronze
34 44 Richard Wilson Honda CBR600RR Team Kibosh 39:16.991 115.255 Bronze
35 57 Barry Furber Kawasaki ZX-6R Clem Davies Racing 39:19.186 115.148 Bronze
36 59 Mark Goodings Kawasaki ZX-6R Jack Keeton Racing 39:21.979 115.012 Bronze
37 51 James Chawke Yamaha YZF-R6 Lyonara Cold Stores 39:23.647 114.931 Bronze
38 54 Mike Norbury Yamaha YZF-R6 DC Racing 39:24.727 114.878 Bronze
39 40 Gary Vines Honda CBR600RR Atherstone Acc Repair Centre Ltd 39:26.591 114.788 Bronze
40 43 Josh Daley Kawasaki ZX-6R Josh Daley Racing 39:28.585 114.691 Bronze
41 37 Mark Parrett Yamaha YZF-R6 Mark Parrett Electrical Racing 39:34.284 114.416 Bronze
42 42 Jamie Cringle* Honda CBR600RR AGR Motorsport/ KPC Construction 39:40.231 114.130 Newcomer
43 36 Davy Morgan Yamaha YZF-R6 Shaz Racing/Strangford holiday park 39:44.740 113.914
44 38 Rennie Scaysbrook* Suzuki GSX-R600 PRF Racing / Metzeler / 5.11 39:46.756 113.818
45 50 Paul Potchy Williams Yamaha YZF-R6 SMW Racing 39:49.473 113.689
46 58 Sam Johnson Suzuki GSX-R600 Ron Soar/Dynamic Access 40:01.555 113.117
47 49 Jim Hodson Yamaha YZF-R6 Al Gibbon Racing 40:01.562 113.116
48 52 Julien Toniutti Yamaha YZF-R6 Martimotos 40:32.516 111.677
49 60 Miroslav Sloboda Yamaha YZF-R6 Laki RT 53 & Dragster 41:00.457 110.409