TT 2017: 132mph Harrison 'over the moon' with double Superbike podium

Published: 14 June 2017 Updated: 14 June 2017

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Dean Harrison continued to show he’s got what it takes to join the TT elite in future years with another impressive week at the 2017 Isle of Man TT.

While the Bradford ace walked away with three podiums in 2016 in the Superstock and Supersport races, he had his eyes firmly set on one prize this year as he looked to up his game with a Superbike rostrum.

However, the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki man didn’t have to wait for long after showing he had what it takes in the opening race of the week.

After a race long battle for the lead with Ian Hutchinson and Peter Hickman, Harrison took a credible third in the Superbike race, something he’d follow up in Friday’s Senior race behind the same two riders.

“The goal this year was to get on the Superbike podium, we’ve been on the podium in every other class apart from that so to come here and do it in both the Superbike and Senior is awesome,” he said.

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Harrison didn’t just up the ante on the Superbike in terms of results, but his fastest lap of 132.019mph saw him become just the eighth rider to lap the 37.73 mile course with an average speed of 132mph or higher.

“It’s mega to have done a 132mph lap, that’s exactly what we came here to do. If I had done a 131.999mph I’d have banged my head against the wall. I’m over the moon to be honest, the team were faultless all week.”

And Harrison’s results are even more remarkable given he was running a Superstock motor after blowing both his Superbike engines in practice week.

“The motor is completely stock, we used the same engine in both the Superbike and Senior races. The difference from my stocker to my superbike is a set of forks and some calipers. I’m even running the standard swingarm and wheels.”

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By Oli Rushby

Former sports reporter covering British Superbikes, World Superbikes and road racing