Southern 100: Dean Harrison 'over the moon' after fourth Solo Championship triumph, outright lap record and Superbike four-timer
Southern 100 Solo Champion Dean Harrison completed a Superbike clean sweep at Billown on the Isle of Man yesterday as he wrapped up a four-timer and set a new outright lap record.
Harrison left it late to win the earlier Steam Packet Company Senior race with a pass on Peter Hickman on the final lap after he didn’t make the best of starts from pole.
The 37-year-old was keen to avoid a repeat in the blue riband Solo Championship race and Harrison made no mistakes this time to lead off the line.
He set a record-breaking pace, shattering his 2025 outright lap record on the second lap with a speed of 117.663mph.
Harrison edged further clear on each lap from runner-up Hickman (8TEN Racing BMW), who was safe in second place ahead of Mike Browne (MB Racing/Russell Racing Honda) and Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda).
Harrison, who won by 6.9s, set a new race record for the nine-lap showpiece around the 4.25-mile course in 19m 42.132s (116.484mph) to clinch the Solo Championship title for the fourth time in his career, completing a four-timer in the Senior races.
The Bradford man, now living in Ballaugh on the Isle of Man, has been in excellent form in 2026, establishing himself as the man to beat in the Superbike class after winning the Superbike and Senior races at the TT in June.
“I’m over the moon and we’ve been strong all week – strong all year really, everywhere I’ve been – so I knew from the race before I had a bit more pace,” Harrison told Manx Radio.
“We made a few tweaks and I just needed to get to the front and do it by myself; when I was stuck behind I was struggling to get through in the race before [Steam Packet Senior Race] and I know it was probably better to watch, so I apologise for that.
“I wanted to win so I just got the head down from the start and banged in nine laps around lap record pace, which I felt comfortable doing at that pace.
“I had a little more left if need be, but I just sat at that pace, felt really comfortable and brought it home,” added Harrison.
“Massive thanks to Honda, they’ve lent me my Honda TT Senior bike for this year, so I’m over the moon.
“I’m over the moon to get [the lap record], Pete’s [Hickman] back on form and it’s great to see him here supporting the Southern 100.
“Thanks to all the marshals and everyone waving over the wall at me, I really appreciate it and it means a lot.”
Michael Dunlop finished a distant fifth on his MD/Hawk Racing Honda ahead of Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda), with Conor Cummins (BMW) and SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson (Honda) completing the top eight.