MGP: Round-up of Race Day 1

Lopez makes history, victory for birthday boy Browne, & record-breaking win for Harrison

After being thwarted by bad weather throughout the week the first races of the 2023 Manx Grand Prix finally got underway yesterday. 

First up was the Classic Senior MGP, which took place over a reduced distance of 3 laps because of the busy schedule for the day. 

Mike Browne was the initial leader of the pack but it ended up being Dean Harrison who dominated the race, setting a new Senior lap record in the process of 111.395mph.

He won by a commanding 52.5 seconds:

The battle for second went all the way to the end with John McGuinness coming home ahead of one-time leader Mike Browne with Shaun Anderson just missing out.

McGuiness said the pitstop was his downfall:

Straight after was the Junior MGP, with ones to watch from qualifying being young Manxman Joe Yeardsley and Victor Lopez, both of whom unofficially smashed the Supertwin MGP lap record, Yeardlsey coming in the faster of the two.

It was Victor Lopez who made history on Saturday afternoon as he became the first Spanish rider to win at the Manx Grand Prix, setting a new lap record of 117.645mph on his way to winning the Junior MGP:

Team-mate Joe Yeardsley led after the opening lap but ended up bowing out with mechanical issues, leaving Lopez to do battle with fellow Paton riders Andrea Majola and Maurizio Bottalico before pulling away on the final lap to win by 14.82 seconds.

It was Majola who pipped it to the runners up spot:

But Bottalico didn't seem too upset about claiming third:

Topping off the day's action was the Lightweight MGP Race. 

Originally set to run over 3 laps, it was cut down to 2 mid-way through the race because of bad weather rolling in.

Lots of riders ended up retiring shortly after starting, including race favourite Michael Dunlop, leaving Ian Lougher and Mike Browne to go head-to-head for the top spot.

And it was Browne who was crowned the winner, beating Lougher, who was racing in his 40th Manx Grand Prix, by 31 seconds:

Dan Sayle came in third and was pretty happy about it too: