Simply put, Michael Dunlop is unstoppable in the Supersport class at the Isle of Man TT. Nine wins in a row, 34 TT victories in total, and a machine — the Ducati Panigale V2 — that looks perfectly at home on the Mountain Course. As the week progresses, all eyes will be on Race 2 to see whether anyone can finally stop the Ballymoney man. Based on today’s display, that looks like a very tall order indeed. Michael Dunlop MBE reminded the world exactly why he is the king of the Supersport class. The Northern Irishman blazed around the legendary Isle of Man Mountain Course to seal a stunning victory in Supersport TT Race 1 on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.
Dunlop Extends His Incredible Supersport TT Race 1 Winning Streak
This win was not just any win. For Dunlop, it was his ninth consecutive Supersport TT victory — a record that speaks volumes about his class. Furthermore, it was his 34th TT win overall and his 53rd TT podium, cementing his name among the all-time greats of this legendary race. Riding the MD Racing Ducati Panigale V2, he crossed the finish line 24.47 seconds faster than Dean Harrison. Clearly, the Ballymoney man is in a league of his own right now.
Race Day Conditions Force a Change of Plan
The day did not go as originally planned. Heavy overnight rain forced officials to delay the race by four hours. The start shifted from 11am to 3pm to allow the course to dry. Additionally, organisers cut the race from four laps down to three. Despite this, conditions were largely good by start time. Only a few damp patches remained at Glen Helen, Glentramman, Ramsey Hairpin, and the Waterworks. Nevertheless, the riders pushed hard from the very first corner.
Highlights From Supersport TT Race 1
- 34th TT Victory Michael Dunlop sealed his 34th career TT win, adding to a legendary tally.
- 9 in a Row Dunlop claimed his ninth back-to-back Supersport TT win — a remarkable feat.
- Fastest Lap: 127.672mph He set the race’s fastest lap, showing pure speed from start to finish.
- Pit Lane Penalties Mike Browne and Conor Cummins both received 30-second penalties for breaking the pit lane speed limit.
- Ducati Dominance Dunlop’s third consecutive win on the Ducati Panigale V2 proves the machine’s class.
Harrison Led Early, But Dunlop Had Other Plans
At the start, Mike Browne shot off the line on his Yamaha and briefly led the field. However, by Glen Helen nine miles into the lap Dean Harrison on the Honda CBR600RR moved to the front. He led Dunlop by 1.6 seconds at that point. Meanwhile, Paul Jordan sat just 0.3 seconds behind Browne in fourth. Josh Brookes, despite qualifying fourth fastest, found himself down in tenth at this early stage.
As the lap progressed, Harrison pushed to extend his lead to 2.1 seconds by Ballaugh Bridge. However, Dunlop responded sharply and cut the gap to 1.1 seconds through Ramsey. By the end of Lap 1, the two riders dived into the pits separated by just 0.127 seconds a razor-thin margin. Dunlop’s lap speed was 126.602mph against Harrison’s 126.587mph. It was as close as it gets.
Pit Stop Drama Changes the Shape of the Race
The pit stop proved to be the turning point. Dunlop came out of the pits faster and reclaimed the lead. Sadly, Peter Hickman lost crucial time when his filler cap refused to open. That delay dropped him behind Dominic Herbertson temporarily. Additionally, Mike Browne paid a heavy price for speeding in the pit lane. Officials hit him with a 30-second time penalty. Conor Cummins received the same punishment for the same offence. Both riders fell well down the order as a result.
Lap 2 — Dunlop Simply Flies Away
On the second lap, Michael Dunlop Supersport TT Race 1 dominance became fully clear. Through Glen Helen, his lead over Harrison grew to 2.3 seconds. Then, at Ballaugh Bridge, it had nearly doubled to four seconds. By Ramsey, he had stretched it further to 7.2 seconds. Hickman, meanwhile, steadily clawed his way back up and regained fourth place. The race for the podium was clearly shaping up between Hickman, Jordan, and Herbertson.
Final Lap — The Mountain Course Belongs to Dunlop
Starting the final lap, Dunlop held a 12.5-second lead over Harrison. Moreover, Hickman was breathing hard down Jordan’s neck, just 1.8 seconds behind as the last lap began. Herbertson sat fifth, with Brookes tracking him from sixth. Through Glen Helen for the third time, Dunlop’s lead had swelled to 16.1 seconds. Hickman, true to form, pushed through to third. He was now 2.3 seconds clear of Jordan. Brookes, following Hickman’s line closely, used the tow brilliantly to pull past Herbertson late in the lap.
Ultimately, Dunlop crossed the line with the fastest lap of the race at 127.672mph, winning by 24.47 seconds from Harrison (126.258mph). Hickman completed the podium at 127.215mph. Interestingly, the same three riders who stood on the Superbike race podium filled the top three here too — just in a different order this time.
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