Dunlop victorious in opening Southern 100 race

SOUTHERN 100/Mark Falconer

Michael Dunlop was declared winner of the first race of the 2024 Southern 100 meeting

Catherine Nicoll

BBC Isle of Man

10 July 2024

Michael Dunlop won the first event of the 2024 Southern 100 road races on the Isle of Man after it was cut short by a red flag.

The Northern Ireland rider overhauled pole-sitter Jamie Coward on the second lap of the Senior Race and had stretched his lead on the next before the race was stopped.

Organisers declared the result based on the standings at the end of lap two, giving Dunlop victory over the rider from Halifax, both men racing on 1000cc Honda machinery.

This year's TT Senior champion Davy Todd took third place on the podium on his BMW in Tuesday evening's changeable weather conditions.

Michael Dunlop racing on the Billown Course. He's leading over on the machine, which matches his leathers and helmet in black, white turquoise and purple with the number six in white on a red background on the front. There is a stone wall covered in green foliage on the left and a sod hedge covered in grass behind him. He is being followed on the road by Jamie Coward, who is also on a bike that matches his leathers in white, orange and black. His helmet is green and yellow.

SOUTHERN 100/CALLUM STALEY

Dunlop, a 29-times TT winner was riding the 1,000cc bike for the first time since June

Coward had held a narrow lead of 0.4 seconds over Dunlop at the end of lap one on the 4.25-mile (6.8km) Billown Course, and a blistering start for Todd saw him leapfrog five other riders to slot into third.

But by the end of the second circuit, Dunlop was 0.3 secs ahead of Coward, and the record-breaking TT winner had extended his advantage further to just over a second when the bikes crossed the start-finish line at the end of lap three.

However, the race was then cut short following an incident at Ballawhetstone, which saw a competitor taken to Noble’s Hospital.

Manx Care confirmed the rider was “stable and receiving treatment”.

With Todd confirmed as third, Mike Browne was fourth and Dean Harrison took the fifth place finish.

Michael Sweeney, Paul Jordan, Rob Hodson, Jonathan Perry and Nathan Harrison rounded off the top 10.

Speaking to Manx Radio following the race, Dunlop said he had not ridden the 1,000cc machine since the TT, but the bike was “mint” and it was “good to start off” with a win.

hree riders lined up on their bikes on the podium for the Lightweight race smiling. Rob Hodson is wearing a red cap and black leathers, has a green garland around his neck and is holding a bottle of champagne. His bike is black and white and has the number 44 written in white on a green background on the front. Jamie Coward is on right wearing a blue cap, and orange, black and white leathers, which match the colours of his bike. The number 36 is on the front of the machine in white on a green background. Davy Todd is on the left wearing a turquoise cap and red, white and black leathers, which also match his bike. It has the number one in white with a green background on the front. All three bikes have yellow stickers with the words Steam Packet on them in black lettering.

SOUTHERN 100/Mark Falconer

Rob Hodson put in a commanding performance in the wet conditions in the Lightweight race

As the wet conditions around the track worsened, the second race of the evening saw Hodson take victory in the Lightweight class.

The Wigan man was in a duel for the lead with Coward at the first corner, going on to secure a 0.9 seconds advantage on lap one, with Todd following closely behind the pair.

In a dominant performance on his 650cc Paton, Hodson extended his lead as the five-lap race unfolded, taking the chequered flag 5.6 seconds ahead of nearest rival Coward, on board a Kawasaki.

Todd, also on a Kawasaki, pipped Browne and Sweeney to take third, with Manxmen Joe Yeardsley and Dan Sayle sixth and seventh respectively.

Stephen McKnight, Barry Furber and Paul Potchy Williams completed the top 10.

Hodson told Manx Radio the Paton had “handled pretty well in the wet”.

He said he had not been “pushing too much beyond the limit” but there had been “a couple of slides here and there”.

He added: “It wasn’t difficult to ride, which is good."

Racing at the Southern 100 is set to continue until Thursday.

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