2011 Isle of Man TT
When the practice sessions were complete Friday for the 2011 Isle of Man TT races, Bruce Anstey became the ultimate pic for Saturday’s 6-Lap Dainese Superbike race.
The Padgetts Honda IOMTT rider lapped over 131 mph on Friday, and by the second lap of the Dainese Superbike race, he had set the fastest lap of 131.378 mph. The favorite was simply dominating, but on lap 3 he retired at Quarry Bends.
This gave the lead to the man he was battling with, Honda TT Legends John McGuinness on the CBR1000RR. He retook the lead after a fast pit-stop, and eventually went on to win his 16th IOMTT.
John McGuinness (Honda TT Legends CBR1000RR) says: "I am speechless… I feel like I am dreaming. It looked like it was going to be a mega-close race to begin with. Bruce was really pushing hard at the beginning there and we lost some time but we had a great pit stop, went back out and got the lead back.
"I did six good laps, I didn’t make any mistakes and we had two terrific pit stops by a fantastic team. They put a lot of faith in me and I put a lot of faith in them and it paid off. It was tiring but I have to say that the EWC races are really paying dividends now in terms of bike fitness. Somebody said to me today if you get that 16th win it will be sweet 16 – and it certainly feels sweet."
McGuinness would finished over a minute ahead of Wilson Craig Honda CBR1000RR rider Cameron Donald. The Morecambe IOMTT rider would finish the Dainese Superbike IOMTT race in 1 hour, 46.13 minutes, with an average speed of 127.870 mph.
The final IOMTT podium went to Links Lifting/East Coast Honda CBR1000RR rider Gary Johnson with an average speed of 126.549.
McGuinness’s teammate Keith Amor finished a respectable fourth in the Dainese Superbike IOMTT race. Amor was questionable after he had a high-side at Quarterbridge. The Honda TT Legends rider hit a patch of oil there, crashing the Honda CBR1000RR. He seperated his shoulder, but was told by Doctors he was OK to race Saturday.
Rounding out the top five was Michael Dunlop on the Street Sweep Kawasaki ZX-10R.
As for crowd favortie, Relentless TAS Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider Guy Martin, he retired at Hilberry on the peunultimate lap; he was in second-place before retiring.
Stay tuned to UltimateMotorcycling.com for team reports.
2011 Isle of Man 6-Lap Dainese Superbike Race Results:
- John McGuinness (Honda TT Legends CBR1000RR) 1.46:13.4 (127.870mph
- Cameron Donald (Wilson Craig Honda CBR1000RR) 1.47:10.3 (126.730mph)
- Gary Johnson (Links Lifting/East Coast Honda CBR1000RR) 1.47:19.9 (126.549mph)
- Keith Amor (Honda TT Legends CBR1000RR) 1.48:3.36 (125.701mph)
- Michael Dunlop (Street Sweep Kawasaki ZX-10R)
- Daniel Stewart (Wilcock Consulting Honda CBR1000RR)
- William Dunlop (Wilson Craig Honda CBR1000RR)
- James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R)
- Adrian Archibald (AMA Racing Kawasaki ZX10R)
- Ian Mackman (Kemtile Suzuki GSX-R1000)
