TT 2026: Michael Dunlop ups Supersport ante with record 129mph qualifying lap as Dean Harrison sets Superbike pace
Michael Dunlop’s record Supersport qualifying lap only stood for a few hours before the Northern Ireland rider raised the bar further on Wednesday evening at the Isle of Man TT.
The record 33-time winner lapped at 128.315mph in the afternoon but was even quicker in the evening session, lapping at 128.764mph from a standing start and then clocking 129.557mph on his flying lap.
Dunlop recorded the first 130mph lap by a Supersport rider in 2023, when he set a lap record of 130.403mph on his MD Racing Yamaha.
Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison was second fastest at 125.69mph with Paul Jordan third at 125.375mph on the Jackson Racing by Prosper2 Ducati.
Josh Brookes was fourth fastest riding the Uggly&Co Racing Suzuki (125.372mph) ahead of Mike Browne (BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha) at 124.13mph.
In the Superbikes, Harrison topped the leaderboard on the Honda Racing Fireblade with a speed of 133.712mph from Peter Hickman (8TEN Racing BMW), who clocked 132.039mph.
John McGuinness (Honda Racing) was third fastest at 129.775mph ahead of Dunlop, who only did 127.869mph as he continues to have issues with the MD/Hawk Racing Honda.
Brookes was fastest in the Superstock session on the DAO Racing Honda at 131.943mph from Ian Hutchinson (Team RST BMW), who did 130.691mph.
Manx rider Nathan Harrison was third in the evening times, lapping at 130.24mph on the H&H Motorcycles Honda.
Jamie Coward led the Sportbike session on the Milenco by Padgett’s Paton with a speed of 119.832mph from Michal Dokoupil (117.713mph) and Dominic Herbertson (117.685mph).
Dunlop set an unofficial Sportbike lap record in the afternoon session on his Paton at 123.557mph.