Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison confirmed for Southern 100 in July but one big name is notable absence from Billown
Michael Dunlop will return to the Southern 100 on the Isle of Man in July.
Dunlop will be targeting more success on the Island after extending his record haul of TT victories to 36 with a treble this month, including two Supersport wins and victory in the sole Sportbike race.
The Ballymoney man is a big supporter of the ‘Friendly Races’, which will take place around the 4.25-mile Billown course from July 6-9.
Dunlop was a winner in the Supersport class last year at the Southern 100 on his Ducati Panigale V2.
His opposition includes Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison, who is also in excellent form after winning the Superbike and Senior races at the TT.
Harrison is a multiple Southern 100 Solo Champion and will be aiming to add more wins at the event.
One notable name absent at this stage is reigning Solo Champion Davey Todd, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a crash at the Daytona 200 in March, which caused him to miss the North West 200 and TT.
However, a strong line-up features Irishman Mike Browne – a Supersport winner last July on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha – who is also coming off the back of an impressive TT.
Browne finished as the runner-up in the Sportbike TT race and was fourth in the second Supersport race.
Northern Ireland’s Paul Jordan is another leading light on the Jackson Racing machines along with Rob Hodson – a double winner in the Supertwin races in 2025 – plus Dominic Herbertson and Jamie Coward.
Skerries man Michael Sweeney is entered while Manx riders flying the flag for the Isle of Man include Nathan Harrison, who sealed a podium last year in the Senior Superbike race behind Todd and Harrison.
Conor Cummins will compete at the event for the first time since 2014, while Joe Yeardsley, Michael Evans and Marcus Simpson will hope to make their presence felt against a field packed with top-class talent.
An eye-catching international contingent includes Austria’s Julian Trummer and Spaniard Victor Ortega, plus French riders Amalric Blanc, Loïc Sirot and Stéphane Bellavoine and Belgium's Seppe Noël.
The Southern Hemisphere is represented by Australian rider Anthony Stephens, while the United States will have two competitors on the grid in Israel Gillette and Bridgette LeBer, underscoring the worldwide appeal of the famous Manx race.