There’s no such thing as an ‘easy’ race around the TT Mountain Course, but it’s the Superbike and Senior TT events that remain the most grueling test.
2025 Superbike TT Preview
UPDATED MAY 24, 2025
This is a race preview by Simon Patterson /courtesy of IOMTT Races
Spanning six laps—one-third longer than any other race—and featuring full-factory superbike machinery, these races demand absolute concentration, peak physical endurance, meticulous preparation, and, not least, a touch of luck.
While the Senior TT at the week’s end retains its crown as the most prestigious prize, the Superbike TT brings its own intense pressures—especially for riders who’ve had a shaky qualifying week and are now thrown into the deep end aboard a 200+ horsepower superbike, just as the Island hits peak frenzy with fans.
Some victories are simply harder-earned than others, which is why a six-lap TT win—be it Superbike or Senior—remains the pinnacle for most racers making the pilgrimage to the Isle of Man. But only a select few lining up on Glencrutchery Road truly know what it takes. This year two of them will launch away from the Grandstand as teammates.
UNDER PRESSURE
The standout favorite heading into race week has to be Peter Hickman. He’s dominated the big-bike TT classes in recent years, racking up eleven wins aboard 1000cc machines. The outright lap record holder has built his reputation on raw speed and consistency, leveraging his physical stature to manhandle the powerful superbikes around the Mountain Course. Though his size is often a hindrance in the British Superbike Championship, on the Isle of Man it’s a clear advantage.
Still, Hickman comes into 2025 with something to prove. He opened his 2024 campaign with a strong Superbike TT performance, despite facing mechanical gremlins on his Monster Energy FHO Racing BMW during qualifying. But a rare crash in the Senior TT saw him sidelined – thankfully unhurt but frustrated. That win instead went to the rising star—and Hickman’s new 2025 teammate—Davey Todd.
After a breakthrough performance in 2024, capped by a Senior TT victory, Todd arrives this year with fresh expectations. For the first time in his TT career, the pressure is squarely on Hickman to respond. One of the most fascinating plotlines this year will be to see how he deals with that challenge in his quest to return to the top.
ADVANTAGE TODD?
Todd, by contrast, is still unlocking his full potential at the TT. A relatively late arrival to the event—his momentum briefly stalled by the pandemic—he exploded onto the scene in 2024, securing wins in both the Superstock and Senior classes. Now he’s determined to prove those results were no flash in the pan.
He was imperious in the four-lap Senior TT, though notably without his main rivals present at the checkered flag. While he beat them fair and square elsewhere, 2025 is his chance to go toe-to-toe with Hickman and Dunlop in a full-length six-lap battle. Starting the season on an equal footing with Hickman—same bike, same support—might just tip the psychological scales in Todd’s favor. They’re now racing for their own outfit, 8Ten Racing, formed after their split from FHO Racing. With much of their old crew and crucial BMW factory backing intact, the biggest unknown isn’t speed—it’s whether they can juggle performance with running their own team.
The man most likely to disrupt their plans? Michael Dunlop. With 29 TT wins to his name, the most in history, Dunlop may not have specialized in superbikes over the past decade, but that doesn’t mean he lacks firepower.
DUNLOP ADAPTS TO HIS RIVALS
Todd and Hickman are not the only competitors placing their confidence in Bavarian engineering, with the BMW M 1000 RR continuing to establish itself as the machine of choice among an expanding group of podium contenders.
Notably, the famously independent Michael Dunlop has decided to put his renowned adaptability to the test with a late switch to BMW machinery. It is relatively uncommon to see the 29-time TT winner competing on the same equipment as his principal rivals. However, by opting for BMW, the astute Dunlop has effectively neutralized any potential technical advantage Todd and Hickman might have held had he returned to the TT with Honda.
Dunlop’s association with BMW is both significant and successful. His initial collaboration with the German marque came in 2014, when he secured a memorable Senior TT victory aboard a BMW—a triumph that marked the manufacturer’s first win in the prestigious race since Georg Meier’s historic success 75 years earlier.
THE FIRE REMAINS
In 2016 Dunlop reaffirmed his prowess by claiming both the Superbike and Senior TT titles on a Hawk Racing-prepared BMW. Beyond securing the double victory, he made history by becoming the first rider to break the 17-minute barrier for a lap of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course and recording the event’s first-ever 133 mph average lap. Fast forward to 2025 and Dunlop returns not only aboard BMW machinery, but also free of the additional burden of chasing Uncle Joey’s legendary win tally. The hunger, however, remains undiminished.
After a pit stop mishap compromised his 2024 Superbike race and a mechanical DNF ended his Senior race, he arrives at the TT on a mission of redemption. His 2024 form, combined with a victory just two years ago, proves he’s still a formidable force on the big bikes, but adding to his arsenal is more superbike mileage than usual—courtesy of a campaign in the Endurance World Championship. That extra saddle time should ensure the self-styled ‘Bull’ arrives at the TT firing on all cylinders.
WINGMEN
HONDA’S DARK HORSES LOOK FOR AN UPSET
Dean Harrison, the last rider outside the big three to win a six-lap TT (the 2019 Senior), is hungry for more. After a long stint on Kawasaki machinery with DAO Racing, his move to Honda last year marked a transitional phase. Now, with a season under his belt and greater stability, he’s poised to challenge for the podiums once again.
Then there’s John McGuinness—former ‘King of the Mountain’ and a true TT icon. At 53, many might expect him to dial things back, perhaps focus on shorter races. But with his unrivalled knowledge and uncanny consistency, he remains a threat—especially over six demanding laps. And keep an eye on another Honda contender.
Aussie Josh Brookes stunned many with a sensational second-place finish in last year’s Senior TT—his first superbike podium. Now riding for the seasoned Jackson Racing squad, Brookes aims to prove it was no one-off.
His presence may also serve as motivation for Northern Ireland’s Paul Jordan, who stays on with Jackson Racing and now has a high-caliber teammate to measure himself against.
Veteran podium finisher James Hillier had hoped for a strong 2025 aboard Honda machinery, but the unexpected collapse of his WTF Racing team has left him and teammate Dom Herbertson scrambling for alternatives.
LOCAL ACES EYE UP SUPERBIKE GLORY
Nathan Harrison, running under the H&H Motorcycles banner after parting ways with Honda’s factory squad, remains an unpolished gem. After injuries interrupted key moments in his rise, 2025 could finally be his breakout year—if he gets a clean run.
Meanwhile, Conor Cummins embarks on a bold new chapter, switching both team and manufacturer. He’ll ride for Burrows Engineering on BMW machinery this year. While there’s no questioning the bike’s capability on the island, Cummins is known for building momentum slowly—and time is short once qualifying begins. One thing’s for sure: on the Mountain Course, experience counts for everything.
The 2025 TT Live Pass is now available.
Don’t forget to sign up to all the live and on-demand action from the 2025 Isle of Man TT via TT+. And as a special offer, the TT is giving Cycle News readers 15 percent off with the code CYCLENEWS15. Click the link here to get your subscription today: https://ttplus-checkout.iomttraces.com/
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2025 Solo TT Preview
VIDEO | 2025 Solo TT Preview Show
The 2025 TT Live Pass is now available.
Don’t forget to sign up to all the live and on-demand action from the 2025 Isle of Man TT via TT+. And as a special offer, the TT is giving Cycle News readers 15 percent off with the code CYCLENEWS15. Click the link here to get your subscription today: https://ttplus-checkout.iomttraces.com/
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The Superstock TT is the race that manufacturers want to win the most.
UPDATED MAY 23, 2025
2025 Superstock Preview
This is a race preview courtesy of IOMTT Races
The Superstock TT is the race that manufacturers want to win the most. Widely considered to offer more of a level playing field, it is also the race where raw talent is more noticeable.
You don’t have to be with the biggest team or have the biggest budget to succeed in the superstock division, and this year will be no exception
There’s a quiet irony in calling the Superstock TT a ‘stock’ race. Because beneath the fairings of these production-based machines lies a class that’s anything but ordinary. Superstock is where raw horsepower meets relentless evolution—a battleground where road racing’s sharpest riders let their showroom beasts off the leash.
The class has grown leaner, meaner, and faster than anyone could have imagined. Two decades ago, the Production TT lagged behind its Superbike cousin. Today it’s the class that holds the outright TT lap record.
With manufacturers like BMW, Honda, and Kawasaki locked in a Cold War of development—and a rider lineup bristling with ambition—Superstock serves up a one-two punch of adrenaline that other classes may struggle to match.
THE PEOPLE’S RACE
In a TT fortnight often dominated by headline-grabbing Superbikes, the Superstock TT remains the people’s race. These are the machines closest to showroom spec—the same bikes you could, in theory, ride straight out of a dealership. With a subsequent tweak or two, you could even hit Josh Brookes-level speeds through the Sulby Straight… though we’ll leave that to the pros. The Manx constabulary would no doubt agree.
Despite their road-legal roots, these bikes have become potent weapons. In the hands of TT gladiators, they’re brutally fast—yet more forgiving over the bumps and jumps of the 37.73-mile course than their thoroughbred Superbike cousins. The result? A new breed of machine: one capable of stealing the outright lap record from its traditional home in the Superbike and Senior ranks.
The new three-lap format only cranks up the pressure. There’s no time to ease into the race, and certainly no room for a comeback from even the smallest overshoot. Remember Peter Hickman’s little detour at Braddan? Riders must be on the pace from the first twist of the wrist, execute a surgically precise pit stop, and somehow nurse a single rear tire through 113 miles of full-throttle racing.
No tire change. No margin for error. No place to hide.
PROOF
In 2024 Davey Todd turned promise into proof. Dominating the British Superstock Championship and converting that form into TT glory, he stormed to his first TT win in the Superstock class—then doubled up in the Senior. It was a masterclass in momentum, and it felt like a moment: the day the big three became the big four.
2025 marks a new chapter. Todd returns to the island as a double TT winner—no longer the hunter, but now one of the hunted. Gone is the familiar red of the Milwaukee backed BMW. In its place: the sharp blue and white of 8Ten Racing. It’s a bold move, both for Todd and his new stablemate, Peter Hickman. And while the spotlight burns brighter than ever, they arrive on the island knowing exactly what they—and their German machines—are capable of.
Todd and Hickman aren’t the only ones betting big on Bavaria, with the BMW M 1000 RR remaining the weapon of choice for a growing number of podium contenders. Even the ever-contrarian Michael Dunlop looks set to put his legendary adaptability to the test with a late switch to BMW.
It’s not so common to see the 29-time TT winner lining up on the same machinery as his fiercest rivals, but by making the move, the canny Dunlop has also neutralised any real advantage Todd and Hickman might have held over the Ballymoney man, had he stuck with the Honda.
BMW BLOC
OLD RIVALS RETURN TO BMW POWER
Dunlop first teamed up with the German manufacturer back in 2014, when he famously took a stunning Senior TT win on the Hawk Racing BMW. That victory came exactly 75 years after BMW’s last triumph in the iconic race, when Georg Meier made headlines.
Fast forward to 2016, and Dunlop was back at it, doing the double with wins in both the Superbike and Senior TTs aboard a Hawk Racing-prepped BMW S1000RR. Not only did he take the top step twice, but he also made headlines by smashing the sub-17-minute barrier for a lap of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course—and clocked the first-ever 133 mph average lap in the process.
Around the same time, Ian Hutchinson, so often a thorn in Dunlop’s side, was establishing himself as the undisputed king of Superstock, racking up no fewer than four wins in the class. Still hungry, still a serious threat, the 16-time winner is also making a long-anticipated return to BMW machinery, teaming up with Michael Laverty’s new outfit alongside Ireland’s Mike Browne, who makes his debut as a top-ten seeded rider
HONDA HOPE
RED-MEN LEAD THE RESISTANCE
It’s not all one-way traffic. Honda Racing UK is still fielding some serious heavy hitters, led by Dean Harrison, who’s heading into his second year with the factory squad. He may ‘only’ have three wins to his name, but with more than 30 podiums under his belt, Harrison brings a wealth of experience that few can match. That record speaks for itself—and if the updated Fireblade hits the sweet spot, he’s a genuine contender.
And what about John McGuinness MBE? Still proudly holding the coveted number 1 plate, the ever-popular legend remains the first man to roar down Bray Hill. While few expect him to be in the thick of the podium fight, his experience and unwavering passion for the TT make him the emotional heartbeat of the grid.
Honda will, however, be disappointed to see two of the TT’s top seeds jump ship to join the growing BMW contingent. Jamie Coward is a rider who believes the Bavarian machine is perfectly suited to his style, while local favorite Conor Cummins lines up in the colors of Burrows Engineering / RK Racing for the very first time
FATE & FORTUNA
HONDA’S DARK HORSES HOPE FOR A BIG BREAK
Local star Nathan Harrison is one of many young riders who grew up idolizing McGuinness. After a brief stint alongside his hero at Honda Racing, the young Manxman now returns to his privateer roots—though still with Honda support—running under the H&H Motorcycles banner. After injuries derailed key moments in his rise, 2025 could finally be his breakout year, if he can just get a clean run.
Also waiting patiently for a big break is Josh Brookes, who makes the switch to Honda power with Jackson Racing by Prosper2. Brookes wrapped up his 2024 TT campaign as runner-up to Davey Todd in the four-lap Senior, making it two podiums in two years. But despite being hailed as one of the most talented riders of his generation, outright TT victory has so far eluded him. Now back for a third consecutive year, could 2025 be his moment?
But that’s the beauty of any TT race. For some, it’s the shot at another win—the difference between 29 and 30. For others, it’s the chance to claim that elusive first TT trophy. And for many, it’s simply one more opportunity to take on the Mountain Course and prove themselves on the sport’s biggest stage.
Whatever fuels each rider, the TT remains the ultimate test of man and machine—and arguably, the Superstock class, with its roots in the production races of the early 20th century, is the purest form of all.
STRATEGY
SPEED NOT THE ONLY INGREDIENT
The Superstock races might be shorter, but they demand a different kind of mastery—a blend of raw speed and razor-sharp strategy. Tanks are brimmed, fuel flow rates are measured to the decimal, and pit stops are rehearsed down to the second. One small mistake can be the difference between a podium and a pit lane heartbreak.
And then there’s tire management. With no rear tire change allowed, the same piece of rubber that launches the rider off the line must survive 50 minutes of relentless punishment. That’s why teams have been working closely with manufacturers to develop compounds that can take the heat—both literal and metaphorical.
The 2025 TT Live Pass is now available.
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Since its introduction, the IOMTT Supertwin class has grown, proving incredibly competitive, with more competitors to challenge for top honors.
UPDATED MAY 22, 2025
2025 Supertwin Preview
It’s Dunlop vs. Hickman (But Look Out for Todd)
Words by Phil Wain/Courtesy of IOMTT Races
With five wins from the last seven races, Michael Dunlop and his Paton have been dominating the Supertwin class, but it’s developed into an intriguing contest of late with the newly-crowned ‘King of the Mountain’ going head-to-head with Peter Hickman—the TT’s outright lap-record holder claiming the other two victories.
Two more Dunlop vs. Hickman clashes await, but a new rider-team combination threatens the pair’s dominance.
Blessed with less than half the horsepower of the 240bhp Superbikes, Supertwins naturally lack the outright speed of the other solo classes. When it comes to pure spectacle though, they more than make up for this deficit in other ways. Here, corner speed and aerodynamics are everything. The Supertwin class demands three perfect flat-out laps from all contenders—nothing less will do.
But which bike offers the best chance of success? The class, once dominated by Kawasaki, has been ruled since 2017 by Paton with the Italian marque winning all but one of the last eight races. The recent introduction of the Yamaha R7 and Aprilia RS660, however, has injected fresh competition, so while Dunlop and Hickman remain the favorites for victory, the 2025 races may prove to be more unpredictable than they first appear.
Still, it’s difficult to look past recent results, and the modern-day duelists, Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman, have become masters of this class. Despite their differences in size and stature, the pair are evenly matched on a Supertwin—Dunlop on his Paton, Hickman now fully committed to the Swan Racing R7 Yamaha.
Dunlop dabbled in the class when it was introduced in 2012, but soon found his focus pulled away—initially by signing for Honda Racing. It wasn’t until 2017 that he made a serious return. Seventh place on a Kawasaki that year was disappointing by Dunlop’s standards, but a switch to Paton in 2018 transformed his fortunes.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
A commanding victory and a new lap record of 122.750 mph—which still stands—helped establish the Ballymoney man as the dominant force in the class. Another Paton victory followed in 2019, but Dunlop’s charge was abruptly halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a two-year hiatus, the TT returned in 2022 and delivered one of the most thrilling races of modern times. Each lining up with a Paton, Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman went ‘mano a mano’ in a hard-fought Supertwin race; the lead changing frequently and barely a second separating them over the first two laps. Trackside spectators were denied a grandstand finish when Dunlop retired his Paton at Glen Helen, but this fierce contest has set the tone for the class ever since.
One major shift in the Dunlop vs. Hickman rivalry has been Hickman’s choice of Supertwin machine. As soon as the Yamaha R7 became eligible, he seized the opportunity to switch brands, making it a fully-fledged project for his PHR Performance business. With backing from Swan Racing, he has continuously developed and refined the R7, turning it into a potent weapon.
A fourth-place finish in 2023 for his first race aboard the R7 led many to believe that Hickman had chosen poorly, but aided by the new-look TT schedule, the Burton-on-Trent rider took his second Supertwin victory just a few days later. Though he had to settle for the runner-up spot twice last year, a new personal best Supertwin lap of 121.743 mph underscored both the bike’s potential and the progress of his project.
While Hickman hopes to capitalize on the momentum he has built, Davey Todd will be aiming to make an instant impact—something he is more than capable of achieving. Last year marked his first serious Supertwin campaign, riding for three-time winners Dafabet Racing. He secured a brace of sixth place finishes aboard their Kawasaki, but later admitted the bike was capable of more; limited practice time had simply prevented him from fine-tuning the setup.
BIGGEST THREAT?
Switching this year to a Paton prepared by Padgett’s Motorcycles, Todd is likely to pose the biggest threat to another Dunlop or Hickman victory. His physique makes him ideally suited to a Supertwin, and while this is Padgett’s first venture into the class, their vast experience ensures both rider and team will be fully prepared when the first three-lap race gets underway.
So, is this a three-horse race? Perhaps. But one thing the Supertwin class has consistently shown is its unpredictability. Dunlop and Hickman may be enjoying their time in the spotlight right now but make no mistake—Supertwin remains one of the most exciting and competitive categories at the TT.
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The landscape of the Sidecar class is shifting, with fresh talent rising as a new generation stakes its claim.
UPDATED MAY 21, 2025
Sidecar 2025 Preview
New winners, breakthrough podiums, thrilling newcomers, and emotional farewells—last year’s Sidecar races had it all. The landscape of the class is shifting, with fresh talent rising as a new generation stakes its claim.
The sidecar races were introduced to the Isle of Man TT Races as far back as 1923, and have been ever present since 1954, gaining a loyal following of fans along the way. The intervening decades have seen a number of significant changes to sidecar regulations, but the class has always evolved and moved forward, driven not just by those who strive to be the fastest, but also those who wish to engineer a race-winning machine.
This progress was exemplified by local brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe. In just their fourth TT, the Jurby siblings claimed their first Mountain Course wins, following in the footsteps of their father, Nick, a five-time winner and former lap-record holder. With five podiums from just seven starts—a remarkable feat—their first 120 mph+ lap highlights the rapid performance leap seen in a single generation. With such momentum, the Crowes enter as favorites, but while the fastest crew on the day ought to prevail, a new start order system has the potential to leave some crews second guessing their tactics during qualifying.
Previously sidecar pairings were seeded before the event based on past performance and ranked from fastest to slowest. This naturally grouped top competitors at the front but also led to increased secrecy. No one wanted to lead and reveal course advantages, nor did followers wish to show their strongest sections. The 2025 TT therefore introduces a new system, whereby the start order for the sidecar class will be determined by the times set in qualifying, much the same as it is in Formula One. Whoever sets the fastest lap during qualifying will start first.
A simple premise on one hand, but with the potential to add a layer of intrigue on the other. After all, this is not Formula One, where starting first is often critical. Will top crews confidently lay down an early marker, as Michael Dunlop often does in the solo classes? Or will ‘sandbagging’ come into play, with some hiding their true pace? Strategic slowdowns aren’t new at the TT—going fast in key sections while easing off elsewhere. Whether the result is a familiar start order or a shake-up remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: sector times will face intense scrutiny from rivals and commentators alike.
It is not the only change the class has seen since the TT’s return in 2022, and with high-profile retirements and new contenders emerging, it feels like the end of one era and the start of another. While uncertainty remains, 2025 may be the year this transition fully takes shape. Exciting new talent has entered the fray, just as top crews push past 120 mph. The paddock also boasts a fresh pair of winners, with the Crowe brothers bringing renewed energy to the class.
HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN CHANGE
The 2024 TT will long be remembered for that famous double-victory by Ryan and Callum Crowe, but it was increasingly hard to see past a win for Ben Birchall up until that point. Last year was his first without his brother Tom, his longtime passenger with whom he claimed all fourteen TT wins. Their near-telepathic connection made them formidable, and adjusting to a new partner was always going to be a challenge—even for someone of Birchall’s caliber. Kevin Rousseau was the man brought in to replace Tom.
The likeable Frenchman could boast World Championship success, but had limited TT experience—his only prior attempt ending in two retirements and a best lap of 114 mph. Lapping around the required 120 mph mark with Ben appeared ambitious, but to Rousseau’s immense credit, he came mightily close, a best lap of 119.125 mph aiding the pair to second place in race two.
Their debut could have been even better had they competed in race one. A crash at Mountain Box during qualifying left both battered and bruised, forcing Birchall to make urgent repairs to his LCR Honda. Given the circumstances, a podium finish was a strong result, yet rather than build on that progress, Birchall has made another switch for TT 2025, partnering with Patrick Rosney. A Mountain Course competitor since 2016, the Blackburn resident has multiple top-six finishes. More importantly, unlike Rousseau—who had World Championship commitments—Rosney can race alongside Birchall for the entire season, a factor that could prove crucial.
SHIFTING SANDS
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
If Birchall feels he has a point to prove, then the same likely holds true for Pete Founds and his longtime passenger, Jevan Walmsley. The pair impressed many two years ago, securing a brace of second-place finishes and recording a 120 mph+ lap as they pushed the Birchalls hard. With Tom Birchall retiring from racing, Founds and Walmsley inherited the coveted position of race favorite ahead of TT 2024, but competing on the Mountain Course is rarely as straightforward as the Birchall brothers made it appear, and ultimately the pair gave way to a different set of siblings.
Founds and Walmsley secured another second-place finish—this time behind the flying Crowe brothers—marking their sixth successive TT podium. They would have been disappointed, however, to find themselves nearly 27 seconds adrift, with a best lap well short of their potential. Their frustration was further compounded by a retirement in the second race, so they’ll be eager to mount a stronger challenge this time around and get back within touching distance of that elusive first TT win.
Most onlookers would still consider Founds and Walmsley, along with the Crowes, among the favorites for 2025, highlighting just how quickly these two crews have emerged from the shadow of 14-time winner Ben Birchall to form a new-look ‘big three.’
But it’s not just at the front where we are witnessing a ‘changing of the guard.’ TT 2025 will also be notable for the names that are missing, as three of the sport’s finest retire—including the greatest of them all: Dave Molyneux.
BIDDING FAREWELL
In an illustrious TT career spanning almost four decades, Molyneux racked up no fewer than 17 TT wins, putting him well ahead of his rivals and three victories clear of Ben and Tom Birchall. After a brief barren spell, the Manxman returned to the podium last year, finishing third in what proved to be an emotionally charged final race for ‘Moly’ at his beloved event.
Keen to retain someone of Molyneux’s vast experience, race organizers moved quickly to appoint the local legend as the TT’s new Sidecar Liaison Officer. Molyneux has always drawn great energy from the TT and will no doubt relish his new role.
Meanwhile, two of his former rivals, John Holden and Conrad Harrison, must find new ways to adjust to life without TT racing as they join the Manxman in retirement. Boasting a combined total of 20 TT wins and no fewer than 63 podium finishes, the trio leave behind an incredible legacy.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
The vast majority of sporting events would struggle to overcome the loss of three such key figures, but the sidecar class is well-positioned not only to do so but also to move forward with renewed confidence—thanks in no small part to the opportunities opening up for the sport’s emerging stars.
The established partnership of Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie is among those leading the charge. The pair lapped at 112.357 mph in 2022 during a successful first year, but were forced to miss the 2023 event, undermining their early momentum. They bounced back in style, however, increasing their pace in 2024 to finish fifth in race two—less than 10 seconds adrift of the podium. Despite that stuttering start to their TT career, the pedigree of the former British champions is clear, and they remain on an upward trajectory.
CHAMPIONS ELECT?
Hot on the heels of Crawford and Hardie are double world champions Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement. The Anglo-French pairing made a spectacular entrance into TT racing in 2024, finishing an eye-catching seventh in race one and posting a fastest lap of 113.786 mph. Ellis and Clement are now the fastest newcomers of all time—an accolade they wrestled away from the Crowes, no less—while Clement can also take pride in being the fastest female sidecar competitor in TT history.
Her ambitions, however, will stretch much further—especially now that she and Todd have twice conquered the world stage. Perhaps it was over-ambition in their first year that led to a momentary lapse in concentration, with an accident at the Waterworks bringing out the red flag. That was their only blemish in an otherwise impeccable fortnight and motorsport has long been defined by great champions who have, on occasion, pushed beyond the limits of either themselves or their machines.
UNDER THE RADAR
Robert Dawson and Matthew Sims were another pair of newcomers who impressed last year. While the feats of Ellis and Clement dominated the spotlight, Dawson and Sims quietly delivered a strong performance, securing a top 10 finish (ninth) in their debut year—an achievement not to be underestimated. A lap of 109.465 mph further underlined their potential, and a top-six result should be firmly on their list of goals for TT 2025.
NEWCOMERS
This year’s event will also see an influx of fresh sidecar talent, with Steve Kershaw leading an impressive list of newcomers. Arguably the most successful Scottish driver since the late, great, Jock Taylor, Kershaw is a double British champion and has twice finished third in the World Championship. He’ll be looking to emulate the first-year feats of his regular sparring partner, Todd Ellis, while his new passenger, Rhys Gibbons, already boasts a podium finish to his name.
Another highly anticipated debut comes from George Holden. With a strong set of results secured elsewhere, he arrives at the TT alongside a very capable passenger in Mark Wilkes—who partnered Tim Reeves for many years. But as any seasoned TT fan will tell you, navigating the fortnight successfully isn’t just about on-track performance. It also depends on preparation away from the circuit, and few will be as well-versed in TT life as George’s father, veteran sidecar ace John Holden.
One more new pairing of note, albeit one with some previous TT experience, is that of James Saunders and Sarah Stokoe. Sarah makes a welcome return to the event, having previously been a passenger for Michael Jackson, while James takes the controls for the first time, having previously ridden as a passenger for his father, John. This means he can at least rely on some detailed course knowledge—even if it was knowledge gained from the left-hand side of the outfit!
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Stephen Davison of IOMTT Races previews the 2025 Isle of Man TT Supersport class.
This is a press release from IOMTT/words by Stephen Davison…
Isle of Man (May 19, 2025) – The Supersport class is enjoying something of a renaissance around the globe, but it’s always been flying high at the Isle of Man TT Races, where it rarely fails to deliver a thriller. Michael Dunlop has made a habit of standing on the top step, but with fresh machines on the grid and fierce rivals closing in, the Ballymoney legend can feel the pressure mounting.
After Michael Dunlop raised the 600cc lap record to 128.667 mph at TT 2013 to make it four wins from four starts, the Ballymoney man said he would smash the 130 mph barrier for the Mountain course on a 600cc machine. Sitting alongside Dunlop in the post-race press conference, third placed John McGuinness—who had set a new outright lap record on his 1000cc Honda Racing Fireblade at 131.671 mph just a few days earlier—shook his head in disbelief. ‘If Michael is going to do 130 mph on a 600 the rest of us might as well go home,’ the Morecambe man smiled.
Dunlop followed up on a brilliant Supersport TT double on his MD Racing YZF R6 Yamaha in 2022 with another two-timer in the same class twelve months later to claim a landmark 25th TT victory. Last year Dunlop notched up yet another 600cc double, making it six wins in a row in the middleweight class, as he finally surpassed his Uncle Joey’s record tally of 26 TT victories to become the event’s most successful racer with 29 wins.
The 36-year-old has won TTs on Superbike, Superstock and Supertwin machinery, but it is the Supersport class that forms the foundation of his Mountain course success. His first TT victory came as a 20-year-old on a R6 Yamaha during just his third appearance at the event and he has gone on to notch up another dozen Supersport wins – four with Honda and nine on Yamahas in total.
The self-styled ‘Bull’ has always relished the challenge of Supersport racing around the Mountain course. The power produced by the 600cc machines is more highly strung than the brutal grunt of the 1000cc superbikes, making the lighter and more nimble bikes an exacting tool for screaming through the superfast sections from Braddan to Ballacraine or the climb over the Mountain. As a pudgy teenager Dunlop extolled the nutritional virtues of Pot Noodles before applying himself to the task of becoming super-fit. Lean and toned, he’s now the perfect fit for the sleek contours of the R6, allowing him to pry every ounce of performance from the ageing Yamaha.
SMALL MARGINS
Producing highly competitive racing with often little to choose between the bikes in terms of outright performance, the Supersport class has witnessed some of the closest finishes in TT racing.
In 2012 Bruce Anstey got the verdict over Cameron Donald by just 0.77 of a second after almost 150 miles of racing in the opening 600cc clash—the second closest finish in TT history. It is also a style of racing that suits Dunlop’s aggressive, attacking approach. His bravery in keeping the throttle pinned wide open, when others slacken their grip, allows him to carry as much speed through the corners as the laws of physics permit.
NEW BIKES FORCE RESET
As the man to beat in the class, Dunlop has a big target on his back and recent changes to the Supersport regulations could threaten the domination of the class by the Japanese manufacturers the Ulsterman has previously favored.
In motorcycle racing, sticking to what you know often means going backwards, something Dunlop is determined to prevent as the new rules force a reset for the Ulsterman and some of his principal rivals. Triumph’s 765cc triple and Ducati’s 955cc V2 Panigale, both bristling with extra cubes and horsepower, have been eligible for TT competition since 2024. Successful at world championship level, these new bikes have now attracted the attention of Dunlop and some of his leading rivals.
Whilst most racers aspire to the cushiness of a ‘factory’ backed squad where teams of mechanics prepare the machinery and provide the tea, Dunlop prefers to plough his own furrow. Tales of the Ulsterman appearing in the Honda garage wearing Kawasaki trousers during his 2013 spell with the official squad spelt out the rebel’s resistance to being controlled or taking orders.
Trusting only his closest confidants, Dunlop retains that freedom with his MD Racing/Hawk Racing affiliation that allows him to pick and choose the best machinery for each class.
LOOKING FOR GAINS
DUNLOP EYES UP THE DUCATI
Impressed by the Ducati V2 Panigale’s performances in the hands of archrival, Davey Todd last season, Dunlop switched to a Milwaukee-backed V2 for Spanish testing at the start of the year before racing the Italian machine at Daytona during March. Confident the V-twin can help him maintain his winning Supersport ways at the TT, the Ballymoney man has switched from Yamaha to Ducati for his 2025 campaign. The move represents a major departure for the kingpin of the class, but seasoned Dunlop watchers caution that he will also have his trusty R6 in the van when he arrives on the island. Last year the wily Ulsterman rode a Triumph during TT practice before switching back to the Yamaha for both races.
TODD REUNITES WITH PADGETT’S
Davey Todd was the first of the leading road racers to highlight the Ducati’s potential 12 months ago. With a broad smile on his face beneath a nifty mullet, the 29-year-old has injected a new excitement into the sport over the past couple of seasons, upsetting the established order with blazing performances across every class.
Todd’s maiden TT win in the RL360 Superstock TT and a stunning second victory in the Milwaukee Senior TT have established the Saltburn-by-the-Sea man as one of the event’s leading stars alongside Dunlop, Hickman and Harrison. The Big Three has become the Big Four.
After winning on his debut with a Powertoolmate-backed Ducati at last year’s North West 200, Todd battled with arch rival Dunlop in both of the 2024 Supersport TT races, eventually finishing runner-up to the Ballymoney rider in race one and third in the second encounter behind Dunlop and Harrison. Intriguingly, Todd has decided to return to Honda power for his 2025 Supersport campaign as he rejoins Clive Padgett’s Milenco backed Honda team.
HONDA UPDATE FOR HARRISON
In the face of the new threat from rival manufacturers, however, Honda has not been standing still. Jack Kennedy won last season’s British Supersport championship on the latest version of the CBR600RR. The Irishman’s Honda team-mate and three-time TT winner, Dean Harrison, will have the updated version of the 600cc machine at his disposal for this year’s Mountain Course races.
The Yorkshireman, who is now a Manx resident after moving to the island from his native Bradford last winter, won the second 600cc TT in 2018. Since that day the 36-year-old has finished on the podium of every 600cc TT race bar one without reaching the top step. Will the new Honda help Harrison to make the breakthrough and claim his first TT win since his 2019 Senior TT triumph?
TRIUMPH SUPPORT FOR HICKMAN AND COWARD
The last man to beat Michael Dunlop in a Supersport TT was Peter Hickman in the second race of 2019. The victory of the 14-time TT winner in a shortened two-lap contest onboard the Trooper Beer/Smiths Racing Triumph is the 38-year-old’s only Supersport success around the Mountain course.
Running under his own PHR team banner, Hickman squeezed his six foot plus frame beneath the screen of the Trooper Beer 765cc Triumph again in 2023 to finish runner-up to Dunlop in the second Supersport race, as he became the only rider other than the Ulsterman to break through the 130mph barrier (130.219mph) on a Supersport-spec machine. Last season the Burton-on-Trent racer had to be content with ninth and fifth place Supersport finishes.
‘Factory support’ may be a little different from it was several decades ago when the factory Honda team would turn up with a fleet of Japanese technicians and roll out a hand-built machine for Joey Dunlop. Nonetheless, both Hickman and Yorkshire’s Jamie Coward will be delighted to have the support of the Triumph factory for their 2025 Supersport TT campaigns on the 765cc triples.
Coward’s best TT finish to date came in 2019 when he lost out on a win to Michael Dunlop in the Lightweight race by just 1.2 seconds. A second podium followed for the Yorkshireman in the 2023 Supertwin race as he finished in the top six in every race he started during that year’s TT campaign. The three-time winner of the ‘Privateer of the Year’ award retired in the opening Supersport race last year before posting an impressive fourth place finish ahead of Hickman in the second battle.
STATUS QUO A TURN OF FORTUNE FOR HIND?
The only luck James Hind experienced during last year’s TT was of the miserable variety as gremlins forced the young hopeful out of every race bar one. The one result he did achieve—a stunning fifth place result in the opening Supersport race—confirmed the potential the double Manx Grand Prix winner has held since bursting on to the scene as an 18-year-old. Keeping faith with his 2024 team, Hind will be hoping for better fortune this June.
TO BE SURE
Hailing from north and south of the Irish border, Paul Jordan (7th and 8th) and Mike Browne (8th and 7th) were top 10 finishers in both of last year’s Supersport TT races. The pair will remain with the same teams for TT 2025 with Jordan on the Jackson Racing/Prosper2 CBR600RR Honda and Browne riding in his second season with the BPE/Russell Racing Yamaha team.
ALL CHANGE
CUMMINS TO RACE THE DUCATI
Like Michael Dunlop, Conor Cummins has also made the switch to the V2 Ducati for this year’s two Supersport TTs. The 39-year-old local favorite who split from the Milenco Padgetts Honda squad during last year’s TT festival, will return to action with the Burrows/RK Racing squad in 2025.
The ‘Ramsey Rocket’ would share Peter Hickman’s sentiment that their physique makes them more suited to big bike racing as opposed to Supersport competition. Although Cummins has enjoyed numerous TT podium finishes on 1000cc machinery, his only Supersport rostrum result was a third place behind runner-up Bruce Anstey in Michael Dunlop’s 2009 TT debut win.
EVANS TO HONDA, HILLIER TO KAWASAKI
Also making a change is Conor’s compatriot, Michael Evans. The former Manx Grand Prix winner has left last year’s Triumph behind, as his team, Smith Racing, favors the Honda. James Hillier had also planned to ride a CBR600RR with the WTF Honda squad for this year’s campaign, but following news of the team’s withdrawal, he’s now reuniting with Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing. Having secured two top six results in 2024 with the same squad, it’s a move that could work out well for both rider and team.
FASTER AGAIN?
Despite his pessimistic response to Michael Dunlop’s 2013 prediction, John McGuinness didn’t stay at home and he will be back in action at TT 2025. Two of the Morecambe legend’s 23 TT victories came in the Supersport class, but the 55-year-old will sit out both races this year to concentrate on the Superbike, Senior and Superstock TTs with Honda Racing.
‘It is 18 years since I set the first 130 mph TT lap during the centenary year,’ he reflected. ‘Now Dunlop, Hickman and the rest of the boys are up there or thereabouts at that speed on 600s. Like everything at the TT, the Supersport class just keeps going forward, getting faster and more competitive every year.’
As new machines enter the fold and rising stars close in, the 2025 Supersport TT promises one of the most fiercely contested chapters in the race’s storied history.
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