TT 2018: Clutch issue halts 134mph Harrison

Dean Harrison was cruelly denied the chance to fight for his first Isle of Man TT despite frightening pace in this afternoon’s RST Superbike race.

The Silicone Engineering Kawasaki rider bolted off the line at the start of the race to clock a 134.432mph lap from a standing start, obliterating the outright lap record.

Another 134mph lap on the second 37.73-miles saw Harrison pull a lead as big as 18 seconds over eventual winner Michael Dunlop, but he’d lose a significant chunk of time as a clutch issue began to hold him back on lap three before eventually forcing him to retire at the Sulby crossroads.

“I felt comfortable doing it, the bike was good, I was good,” Harrison said on his 134mph lap. On the second lap I did another 134mph lap slowing down to the pits so that could have been quicker again. Our ideals are really good it’s just putting it together.

“I knew Michael was ten seconds behind me so I had to push from the start. I’m happy with my pace, I know I can go quicker so I’m feeling confident. I just need a bike that can stay together!

“At the end of lap three my clutch started slipping and once that started I knew I was never going to complete the race. I planned to pull in at the end of lap four but I only made it as far as Sulby. We’ll take the rough with the smooth and have another go on Monday.”