Isle of Man TT Superbikes race: Latest

Latest reports from the Isle of Man Bennetts Superbike race, with a full report to follow shortly after the race:

Latest update: Lap 6:

Grandstand Finish: McGuinness wins the opening race of the Centenary Isle of Man TT, taking his 12th victory, and claiming a best lap time on his second circuit, with a speed of 128.041mph.

Guy Martin takes second, from Ian Hutchinson, and Martin Finnegan.

Top 10 results:

1. John McGuinness

2. Guy Martin

3. Ian Hutchinson

4. Martin Finnegan

5. Ian Lougher

6. Ryan Farquhar

7. Adrian Archibald

8. Conor Cummins

9. Ian Armstrong

10. Steve Plater

 

Ballaugh Bridge: McGuinness is through Ballaugh Bridge. The gap is 26 seconds to Guy Martin, with a gap from the leader of 1:02.24 to Ian Hutchinson and 1:27.26 to Martin Finnegan. Lougher stays fifth, but just 14 seconds ahead of Ryan Farquhar. Adrian Archibald is seventh. Conor Cummins is eighth, around 40 seconds behind Archibald now. Ninth is Ian Armstrong. Steve Plater is still in 10th on the Yamaha R1.

Lap 5:

Grandstand: John McGuiness clocks 171.600 through the speed trap with a lap speed of 121.375, and off onto his final lap. Guy Martin posts a 121.289 lap to keep the gap to McGuinness around 26 seconds, from Ian Hutchinson in third, and Martin Finnegan in fourth. Ian Lougher is fifth, Ryan Farquhar is sixth, having maintained his gap to Lougher. Archibald is seventh, from Commins in eighth. Ian Armstrong is ninth. Steve Plater is tenth.

Ramsey Hairpin: John McGuinness is still clear of the field, although the gap has dropped to 27.44 from Guy Martin, who has now pulled away from Ian Hutchinson and Martin Finnegan, as the riders move around another backmarker. Ian Lougher is fifth, with Ryan Farquhar 13 seconds behind in sixth, and Adrian Archibald in seventh. Conor Cummins is not almost 30 seconds behind in eighth, with Ian Armstrong ninth and Steve Plater tenth.

Glen Helen: McGuinness leads by 31.13 from Martin. Hutchinson is around 21 seconds behind on time, with Finnegan a further 26 seconds back, despite the three riders remaining close together on the road. Lougher is 16 seconds ahead of Ryan Farquhar. Adrian Archibald is now around 20 seconds ahead of Conor Cummins. Ian Armstrong is ninth, with Steve Plater in tenth.

Lap 4:

Grandstand:  McGuinness heads into the pits for a newer rear tyre, following a 127.207mph lap (17min, 47 sec lap), and with a second good pitstop for the HM Plant team. Martin, Hutchinson and Finnegan all pull in together, still seperared by significant amounts of time, but all together on the road. Ian Lougher pulls into the pits in fifth, Ryan Farquhar is sixth just 12 seconds behind. Adrian Archibald is seven seconds ahead of local rider Conor Cummins. Ian Armstrong is ninth. Back at Bungalow, Steve Plater is running in a fine tenth place on his debut.

Ramsey Hairpin: McGuiness safely through, heading the six Hondas dominating the Superbike race. Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson keep their positions from Martin Finnegan. Ian Lougher stays in fifth, still tailed by Adrian Archibald on the road. On time it’s Ryan Farquhar next in sixth, but Archibald has now moved up to seventh from Conor Cummins on time by just three seconds. Ian Armstrong is ninth

Glen Helen: McGuinness continues to extend his lead as he begins lap four, moving through backmarkers to lead Guy Martin by 24 seconds, with Ian Hutchinson third, and Martin Finnegan fourth. The trio are still battling on the road, despite each being seperated by around 20 seconds on corrected time.

Ian Lougher remains in fifth, from Ryan Farquhar. Conor Cummins is seventh, with  Adrian Archibald eighth, holding on to the exhuast on Ian Lougher on the road. Ian Armstrong is ninth, around 2:47.41 behind McGuinness. John Barton is tenth. Steve Plater is at the Grandstand and has moved up to 12th place.

Lap 3:

Grandstand: McGuiness still leads, as he finishes lap three. Guy Martin is 22:05 behind McGuiness, Ian Hutchinson 42.74 behind the leader.  Martin Finnegan is fourth, Lougher fifth and closing on Adrian Archibald on the road, with Ryan Farquhar in sixth on corrected time. Conor Cummins is seventh, with Archibald eighth on time. Ian Armstrong is ninth. Mark Parrett is off and out of 10th place, but is OK.

Ramsey Hairpin: McGuiness moves past a backmarker as he reaches Ramsey Hairpin, removing a tear-off from his visor. Guy Martin is now 18.50 seconds behind the leader, taking Ian Hutchinson on the inside, at the apex of the hairpin, to move up on the road. Ian Hutchinson is now 38 seconds behind first, with Martin Finnegan 1:01.64 behind.

Ian Lougher is fifth, from Ryan Farquhar in sixth, Conor Cummins in seventh, and Adrian Archibald in eighth. Ian Armstrong is ninth, with Dan Stewart in tenth. Plater remains 17th.

Glen Helen: McGuiness leads, following a new Superbike record with a 128.279mph lap before coming into the pits. A fast pitstop gained around 6 seconds for the HM Plant rider, and McGuiness reaches Glen Helen 17.83 ahead of Guy Martin, although Ian Hutchinson arrives second on the road, but in third place on corrected time. Martin Finnegan is fourth, ahead of Ian Lougher, Ryan Farquhar and Adrian Archibald. Michael Rutter has retired. In 17th place is Steve Plater.

Lap 2:

Cronk ny Mona: McGuiness leads at Cronk ny Mona as he heads towards his pit stop on the HM Plant Honda, and he’s broken the Superbike lap record. He’s now 8 seconds ahead of Guy Martin, from Ian Hutchinson, Martin Finnegan and Adrian Archibald

Ballaugh Bridge: John McGuinness is leading on Lap 2, just under five seconds ahead of Guy Martin, and 14.75 seconds ahead of Ian Hutchinson. Martin Finnegan is fourth, from Ryan Farquhar, Ian Lougher, Adrian Archibald, Conor Cummins, Ian Amstrong and Paul Hunt.

Lap 1:

McGuiness leads on the road. Both Bruce Anstey and Michael Rutter are forced to retire from the race.