TT success for Honda and the Honda TT Legends

[totalmotorcycle]

TT success for @Honda and the #Honda TT Legends

The 2013 Isle of Man TT has been a resounding success for Honda and the Honda TT Legends, with six out of the seven solo races being won by the team’s riders and seven of the nine solo and sidecar races being won on Honda machinery. Honda’s tally of TT wins now stands at 170.



The week began in spectacular style on Saturday with the Superbike race, which ended in an all-Honda podium. Honda TT Legends’ Michael Dunlop stormed to victory to bring home his first TT win for Honda, 30 years after his uncle Joey Dunlop achieved the same feat. Team-mate John McGuinness took third place behind Wilson Craig Honda’s Cameron Donald and in doing so set a new outright lap record of 131.67mph.



Saturday also hosted the first of the Sidecar races with quadruple World Champion Tim Reeves taking his first TT victory alongside passenger Dan Sayle aboard their Honda-based machine.



The following day saw the first of the Supersport races with Michael Dunlop securing his second win of the week, this time with his own MD Racing Honda team. By the afternoon and the end of the Superstock race, his double had become a hat-trick as he took yet another win and set a stunning new lap record of 131.220mph. McGuinness was also on the podium in third with HM Plant Honda by Padgett’s Motorcycles.



After a day of rest, the races returned on Wednesday with the TT Zero Challenge, the second Sidecar event and the final Supersport battle. Honda TT Legends’ riders Michael Rutter and John McGuinness impressed on their respective electric bikes, with Rutter snatching the win from McGuinness by just 1.67 seconds. The Sidecar race saw former World Champions Ben and Tom Birchall leading from start to finish aboard their Honda machinery to take their first TT victory.



In the Supersport race, Michael Dunlop put in another blistering performance with his MD Racing Honda to secure the win and set another new lap record of 128.667mph. Bruce Anstey and John McGuinness – both riding for HM Plant Honda by Padgett’s Motorcycles – placed second and third respectively to complete another all-Honda podium.



With the majority of the racing complete, all eyes turned to the final and most anticipated battle of the Isle of Man TT – the six-lap Senior. With four wins already in the bag, Michael Dunlop was aiming for five out of five, while John McGuinness was on the hunt for his 20th TT victory.

It was McGuinness who triumphed in the final race, which was delayed following a red flag after an incident on Bray Hill on the opening lap. The Morcambe Missile's 20th TT win and 41st podium coming after an epic battle with Michael Dunlop, who finished second to crown an incredible personal week, with Kiwi Bruce Anstey completing yet another Honda 1-2-3.