Michael Dunlop becomes TT all-time greatest

Ballymoney man takes unprecedented 27th win in Supertwin race

Michael Dunlop has become the Isle of Man TT Races' most successful rider of all-time.

The Ballymoney man has taken an unprecedented 27th victory during today's Supertwin TT Race 1, surpassing the previous record of 26 wins which had been held by his uncle Joey Dunlop.

He finishing with a flourish too more than 20 seconds clear of Peter Hickman in second whilst Dominic Herbertson completed the podium in third.

This motorsport fan was overcome with emotion:

Fastest in qualifying, Dunlop set the early pace on lap one with Dominic Herbertson, Rob Hodson and Jamie Coward all in close attendance in the opening stages.

By the time the frontrunners on lap one reached Ramsey, Dunlop's advantage was growing at the top whilst Peter Hickman - after a slower start - moved up into third to join the battle for the podium places with Herbertson in second and Coward just behind in fourth.

Out front, the windy conditions and damp sections of track were doing nothing to phase Dunlop who's lead from Hickman - now climbing up to second - had stretched to 10.2 seconds as riders began arriving at the Grandstand for the mandatory lap one pit stop.

Not far back on this first stop, just 0.01 seconds separated Herbertson in third ahead of Coward who was continuing to battle for that podium place.

The showdown to complete the top five was also very much alive with Mike Browne just about staying clear of Hodson.

Elsewhere at the end of lap one there were notably good starts for Barry Furber and Manx debutant Joe Yeardsley who were both in the running for a place in the top ten.

Into lap two and the previous stops were showing their effect in spreading the field out very slightly as the gaps began to open.

The one constant again was Dunlop who at Ballaugh on lap two had stretched his lead again over Hickman in second to just over 13 seconds whilst a change in fourth saw Browne overhaul Coward.

With Dunlop and Hickman continuing to consolidate first and second respectively heading into the final lap, Herbertson was tightening his grip on third to stay ahead of Browne by just over five seconds.

Meanwhile, Coward continued to push back at Browne to leapfrog him into fourth at Glen Helen on lap three as Hodson - an early contender in the race - dropped out as a retirement.

With an already commanding lead, Dunlop continued a relentless push on the final lap to head onto the mountain run at Ramsey marginally inside lap record pace and a full 21 seconds ahead of Hickman in second.

Even dropping slightly outside that record pace over a windy mountain section towards the finish would do nothing to dampen a truly historic moment as Michael Dunlop cementing his name at the top of the all-time standings.