Tandragee 100: Michael Dunlop wins Open Superbike race from Mike Browne for 14th victory
Michael Dunlop won the Open Superbike race at the Around-A-Pound Tandragee 100 on Saturday after a battle with Mike Browne.
Roads were wet as the race got under way but began to dry quickly once the showers died out.
Cork rider Browne made a fast start on his MB Racing/Russell Racing Honda from second place on the grid and had opened a gap of 2.3s over Dunlop after the opening lap around the 5.3-mile course.
The leading pair were already well clear of Manx rider Conor Cummins in third on his Conrod Racing BMW.
Dunlop quickly reduced the deficit to Browne on the second lap and was now only 0.579s behind.
There was no change in the order at the half-way mark as Browne continued to lead the way from Dunlop, who was following in his wheel tracks.
Cummins remained in third place ahead of Ryan Whitehall (Suzuki) and Sean Buckle (Yamaha 600), who was being closed down by Marcus Simpson.
Dunlop took the lead on the brakes with a pass at Bell’s crossroads at the end of the penultimate lap and led onto the sixth and final lap by two tenths of a second from Browne, with roads now drying rapidly.
A thrilling finish was in prospect, but a slight error from Browne caused him to run wide.
Dunlop closed out his14th victory at Tandragee by 4.1s over Browne, who was comfortably ahead of Cummins in third.
Whitehall held on for a fine fourth position ahead of Simpson (Honda), who worked his way past Buckle.
Michael Sweeney, who qualified on the front row in third place on his MJR BMW, and Kevin Keyes (Daracore Racing Honda) retired from the race.