Michael Dunlop shrugged off the disappointment of breaking down while leading Sunday’s Superbike TT by romping to victory in yesterday’s 600cc Supersport TT.

Conditions were far from perfect for the start of the four-lap race, with damp patches reported on parts of the circuit, and it was Kawasaki rider James Hillier had held a narrow advantage over Dunlop at the end of the first lap.

As conditions improved, 28-year-old Dunlop upped the pace on his privately run Yamaha to move into the lead and pull out a small advantage over Hillier.

William Dunlop, Michael’s older brother, held third on another Yamaha as the bikes came in for their pit stop at the end of lap two, but Triumph rider Peter Hickman was able to close down the 31-year-old and move into third.

The positions remained static, meaning Michael Dunlop moves onto a career total of 14 wins, moving level with the legendary Mike Hailwood as the fifth most successful TT rider of all time. Ian Hutchinson, Sunday’s Superbike TT winner and victor in both of last year’s Supersport races, was a disappointing fifth in yesterday’s race.

Speaking after the race, winner Dunlop said: “I made a slow start, I picked the wrong rear tyre and I was down in fourth for a while. I knew that I had to up the ante a wee bit and I was able to pull out a small gap. I rolled off a bit on the last lap just to make sure we brought it home. I was as sick as a dog when we broke down on Sunday but it’s good to be back winning on a 600 after a few years without a win for one reason or another.”

In the first Sidecar TT, the Birchall brothers Ben and Tom set a new lap record to take their fifth TT win.

Today (Tuesday) is due to see the running of the four-lap Superstock race, although the onset of stormy weather means that the schedule is subject to change.

Want to Insure your Supersport bike? Contact Carole Nash today.