Race of the Year: 2nd - Senior TT

After another epic season of racing, MCN’s sports team of Michael Guy (Sports Editor), Simon Patterson (MotoGP Reporter) and Oli Rushby (Superbike Reporter) sat down to discuss their favourite races of the year. 

And after such a dramatic season across MotoGP, World Superbikes, British Superbikes and road racing, it wasn’t an easy call to decide which race deserved what spot in our top five races of the year. Here’s what we think –  but feel free to disagree with us in the comments!

Race of the Year: 2nd – Senior TT

When a race is held over a distance of 226.38 miles, taking almost two hours, it’s not common for the two riders fighting for the lead to be separated by just two seconds at the end, but that’s what happened in this year’s Senior TT when Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison went at it hammer and tongs for ultimate glory.

As was the case in every race that week, Harrison led the way at Glen Helen on the opening lap, this time by 1.2 seconds over Hickman with Michael Dunlop slotting into third.

With waved yellow flags at Barregarrow, the opening laps were slightly slower than in Saturday’s Superbike race as Harrison continued to lead the way, 1.4 seconds ahead of Hickman at the end of the opening 37.73 miles.

Harrison stretched out a lead as high as 5.5 seconds on lap two, but an epic run over the mountain saw Hickman close it to 1.4 seconds as they came into the pits for the first time.

A slower pit stop for the Smiths BMW team as well as another strong opening sector for Harrison stretch his lead to 8.2 seconds at Ramsey on the third lap, but Hickman was yet again strong over the mountain to further reduce the gap and set a new outright record with a 134.456mph lap.

Harrison was once again in control with the lead back up to five seconds on lap five, but Hickman was on a charge towards the end. Just 1.9 seconds separated the duo ahead of the penultimate lap.

Harrison lost time between Ballaugh and Ramsey with Hickman taking the lead for the first time at the Bungalow and he didn’t look back, crossing the line two seconds ahead of his rival with a staggering average speed of 135.452mph.

Conor Cummins took his second podium of the week for Padgetts Honda ahead of a desolate Michael Dunlop, who was off the pace throughout the race, who crossed the line almost two minutes behind the leaders in fourth.

Josh Brookes took his best ever TT finish for Norton in fifth while Gary Johnson completed the top six.

Martin Jessopp was seventh ahead of Jamie Coward while newcomer Davey Todd took an impressive ninth. Brian McCormack completed the top ten.