Arrowsmith takes Manx Grand Prix Supertwin victory

Lewis Arrowsmith took his first win on the Mountain Course

Lewis Arrowsmith took victory in the opening Supertwin race of the 2025 Manx Grand Prix after leading for most of the race.

The three-lap contest over the 37.7-mile (60.6km) Mountain Course saw the racer from Preston slot into first place on lap one after a close battle with Michael Gahan in the opening sectors.

After holding a comfortable six-second lead for the next lap, his dominance was briefly challenged by a late charge from the Northern Ireland rider.

However, Gahan's retirement on the final lap left Arrowsmith to cross the line 18 seconds ahead of Toby Shann, with Jamie Williams in third.

Arrowsmith finished 18 seconds ahead of Toby Shann, with Jamie Williams in third

The 38-year-old took an early lead on his 660 Aprilla, pulling out two seconds on nearest rival Gahan by Ballaugh on lap one, with Manxman Williams slotting into third.

Also riding Aprilla machinery, Gahan, from Limavady, had overhauled Arrowsmith by 0.2 of a second by Ramsey stretching it to just over a second by the Bungalow.

The dual by the top two down the mountain saw Arrowsmith snatch the lead back coming into the pits, pulling in with a 0.9-second advantage.

That had been extended to 5.5 seconds by Glen Helen on the second lap, with the gap from Gahan to Williams by now stretched to 6.2.

Liam Chawke, from Rathkeale in Ireland, put in a charge on lap two, closing the gap to third-placed Williams to 0.8 of a second by Ballaugh on lap two, with York's Shann also coming into the mix another 0.7 back.

And as the two front runners continued to pull away from the rest of the field, it was Shann on a Kawasaki who pushed his way into third position as the riders made their way along Glencrutchery Road at the start of the final lap.

Arrowsmith held a steady lead of six seconds over Gahan at Glen Helen on the third circuit, but a late charge by Gahan saw that gap narrowed to 1.8 seconds by Ramsey Hairpin.

But Gahan's race ended in disappointment when he retired at Kepple Gate just before the final climb down the mountain.

That saw Arrowsmith continue his charge to victory unimpeded, putting in his fastest lap of the race at a speed of 115.357mph, with Shann moving up to second and Williams crossing the line in third in his home town of Douglas.

Arrowsmith's previous best result at the Manx Grand Prix was 11th place

Arrowsmith, whose previous best result was 11th in the Junior Manx Grand Prix in 2023, told Manx Radio Motorsport he was elated to have taken his first victory on the Mountain Course.

"All this year has been about this race, and we've done it," he said.

"I'm made up."

Although in contention for a podium finish for much of the race as part of the three-handed battle for third with Shann and Williams, Chawke had to settle for fourth, with Caomhan Canny in fifth.

Harley Rushton, Alex Sinclair, Eddy Wormald, Andrew Farrell and local newcomer Grant Thompson rounded out the top 10 places.