Bike India – August 2019

T

hebigoneoftheTT,theSenior TT class, along with

the Superbike category, has the big 1,000-cc, 200-plus

horsepower machines. Rules for the class state that the

bikes must have a basic look of their road-going versions.

Enhancements can be made to the chassis and engine

tuning. The Dunlop Senior TT and the RST Superbike

generally run the same machines by the same teams and

riders. The Senior TT class, however, is considered by

many to be the most prestigious win of the event.

The big four this year would be Dean Harrison, Peter

Hickman, Michael Dunlop, and Conor Cummins, who

were the fastest in the lead-up.

Peter Hickman set a new record on his way to victory in

last year’s race. However, Dean Harrison on his Kawasaki

of Silicone Engineering was to be the one to give

Hickman and his Smiths Racing BMW a real run for their

money. This turned out to be true as Dean Harrison rode

a stellar TT, and that too not in the best conditions, to

claim a hard-earned victory. However, Hickman had an

issue with his bike post a pit-stop. The BMW rider’s bike

kept spewing water when revved over 11,000 rpm. This

meant he had to nurse his vehicle to the chequered flag,

which was the main cause of him being caught and

bettered by Dean Harrison. Second place is where Peter

Hickman would finish, which is still a brilliant result

considering the difficulties he was facing.

Finishing in third place was the Honda of Milenco by

Padgett’s Motorcycles ridden by Conor Cummins.

Cummins was a 0.10 mph (0.16 km/h) slower than

Hickman, which goes to show how close the racing is on

a track of 60.7-kilometre lap. Michael Dunlop, the

multiple winner of the TT and the most famous name in

the TT, finished a close fourth. Dunlop may have missed

out on the podium here but would celebrate in another

category. Having said that, he was 0.5 mph (0.80 km/h)

slower than Cummins.

DUNLOP SENIOR

Dean Harrison on his

way to victory in the

Dunlop Senior TT

Third-place finisher
Connor Cummins flying
through the course

108 Bike India August 2019 http://www.bikeindia.in

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