MOTORCYCLING: Dunlop recalls miracle escape
MICHAEL Dunlop told of his relief after he was almost caught up in a 140mph crash involving English rider Olie Linsdell at the Manx Grand Prix.
Dunlop went on to win the Post Classic Senior race, blitzing the race and lap records for the class, but came within a whisker of disaster when Linsdell crashed in front of him at the flat-out Bishop's Court section of the Mountain Course.
The Ballymoney rider told News Letter Sport of his miracle escape.
"I had caught Olie on the road and he crashed at Bishop's Court, which is a flat-out right-hander. It all happened so fast and all I remember is seeing Olie lying on one side of the road and his bike on the other.
"The only options I had were to run into Olie or his bike, so I aimed for the bike," said the 22-year-old.
"I hit the bike somewhere around the front end and lifted into the air and managed to stay on. I don't know how I got away with it, but it was a close shave.
"After that I just decided to be sensible and bring the bike home for the win rather than trying to polish my ego by getting a 122mph lap."
Linsdell was airlifted to Nobles Hospital following the incident, which was described as a "serious accident" by the organisers.
Dunlop, riding a 1981 Suzuki XR69, had been in blistering form during practice last week, almost lapping at 120mph on Friday evening with an unofficial record of 119.590mph.
And he immediately stamped his authority on the race on the opening lap as he surged to the top of the leaderboard at Glen Helen from Linsdell (Yamaha FZ 746) and Mark Buckley (Suzuki XR69).
Dunlop had a four second advantage over Linsdell at Ballaugh Bridge with Buckley 10 seconds further behind.
Linsdell, who went through the speed trap at Sulby at 164.1mph, established a new lap record of 117.271mph on the first lap as he flashed past the Grandstand, but Dunlop took over the mantle with a speed of 117.979mph to lead overall by 6.75 seconds.
Linsdell was nine seconds adrift of the leader at Glen Helen on lap two but his race was about to come to an abrupt end as the Bedfordshire rider crashed out.
Linsdell was previously badly injured following a practice crash at the Isle of Man TT in 2009.
Dunlop continued to increase his lead, setting a new lap record at 118.186mph on the second lap to extend his advantage over Scotsman Buckley to 1 minute 24 seconds, with Maria Costello holding third.
He won the race comfortably by two-and-half-minutes from Buckley, with Geoff Martin completing the rostrum positions.
Maria Costello (997cc Suzuki) dropped to fifth place behind Chris McGahan, missing the chance to finish in the top three for the second time at the Manx GP after she took third in the Ultra Lightweight race in 2005.
Manx resident Chris Palmer (350cc AJS) won the Post Classic Junior Race after leading from start to finish to take the honours by over three minutes from Phil McGurk, with Ballymena man Barry Davidson finishing third.
Palmer posted a new lap record for the class on his first lap at 111.729mph.
Manx riders took the honours in both the Newcomers 'A' and 'B' races with Tim Venables and Jonny Heginbotham standing on the top step respectively.
Venables set a new lap record at 117.897mph on his way to victory over Shaun Anderson and Norwegian competitor Sebastian Buch.
Andy Fenton had been battling for a top three finish when he crashed at Creg-ny-Baa, sustaining leg injuries.
In the 'B' race, Heginbotham – from Port St Mary – also set a new lap record for the class at 109.073mph, beating fellow Manxman Lee Darbyshire with Scott Campbell third.
Roy Richardson (Aermacchi 349) broke his own Junior Classic lap record set in 2007 with a speed of 102.948mph as he lifted the silverware following a brilliant ride for the Martin Bullock team from Chris McGahan and Alan Oversby.
In a dramatic end to the Lightweight Classic race, Tom Jackson ran out of fuel on the final lap at the Bungalow while leading by 50 seconds to gift victory to Peter Wakefield.
Dave Smith finished second and Jeff Ward third. Early leader Ewan Hamilton was a retirement.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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