- 05/07/2025
Highlights from the 2025 road races at Tandragee on the 27th-28th June 2025.
02:33 - Open Class
13:08 - Supertwin
21:10 - Supersport
28:25 - Tandragee 100
02:33 - Open Class
13:08 - Supertwin
21:10 - Supersport
28:25 - Tandragee 100
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00The Tandragee 100, one of motorcycling's most iconic road races, returns to the calendar after a two-year absence.
00:21And this fabulous event is back with a bang, because headlining is the sport's biggest star.
00:28Northern Ireland's Michael Dunlop, who's had a remarkable year on the track, and Offit was recently named in the King's Birthday Honours list.
00:43Michael Dunlop, MBE. How does that sound?
00:47Yeah, obviously it's a nice honour. It's just nice to be recognised for what you're doing in the sport, obviously.
00:53You've spent a lot of time creating something, and to get an MBE, it's a nice touch.
00:57And when you got the notification, how did that make you feel?
01:00I've spent years racing motorbikes, and I would say there's no deal with it, but obviously when you're being recognised for what you're doing, that's what it's all about, really.
01:10Michael Dunlop remarkably returning to the Tandragee 100 for the first time in 12 years, and he is the favourite to dominate the two classes he's riding in today.
01:23His biggest challenge is expected to come from former Irish champion Michael Sweeney.
01:32Also from the Republic of Ireland, Mike Brown, who's with Russell Racing.
01:41The Isle of Man's Conor Cummins rides for a local Team 2 Burroughs RK Racing.
01:50And Sean Anderson is a member of the Organising Club.
01:56Well, this event didn't run for two years because of vital resurfacing work which has now been completed.
02:03The around a pound Tandragee 100 is also known as a Mini TT due to the fast and flowing nature of its circuit.
02:11So no wonder it suits Michael Dunlop so much, because last year he broke his uncle Joey Dunlop's record on the Isle of Man.
02:20And this year extended his number of wins to an amazing 33.
02:25And Michael is in pole position for the open race.
02:29On commentary, Chris Kinley and Chris Boyd.
02:32Eyes down, slick tyres on.
02:36Got to keep a little eye on, I think, Sean Anderson here on 31.
02:39Michael Dunlop launches it, Michael Dunlop.
02:41MBE launches it, but a great start by the scariest man, Mikko Sweeney.
02:44Michael Dunlop slowing into third place, maybe fourth.
02:47Sean Anderson just slotting in behind him.
02:49But then it's Conor Cummins and then Joe Yurdsley on the Scott Racing Aprilia.
02:53Sweeney then is making the early headway, but the rest are coming.
02:56They're not far behind, this is going to be a big scrap.
02:58On board with Conor Cummins, we go chasing down these front three.
03:02Superbike lap record, L from Dan Neen.
03:042018, two minutes 55.5, 109.6.
03:07Conditions looking pretty good.
03:09And it looked like Michael Dunlop was making a move, but here we go.
03:11Marcus Simpson off the line, pulls the bike to the right-hand side.
03:13Good start by Joe, really good start by Joe Yurdsley.
03:16Pulling alongside his fellow mangsman Conor Cummins and Joe,
03:19just a little bit wide in the centre of the road there.
03:21But Mikko Sweeney's got a great start on board with Marcus Simpson.
03:24I'll tell you what, Marcus loves the Irish roads.
03:27Absolutely, first time then into Marlecu.
03:30And it is, of course, Sweeney continuing to lead the way here.
03:33But, oh, they're right with him here.
03:35They're not letting him go at all.
03:37Oh, that's Joe Yurdsley, Joe Yurdsley down.
03:39There's somebody going straight on.
03:40That looked like Neil Kernaghan that's gone straight on as well.
03:43But Joe Yurdsley, the young mangsman, thankfully,
03:45is up off the Aprilia there now, and he won't be needing that, will he?
03:48Oh, that was lucky.
03:49That was big speed going into there.
03:51And thankfully, he's unscathed as we head on with Sweeney
03:54continuing to lead the way in this Mikko Suzuki Open race.
03:58That's Mike Brown.
03:59We're on board with Mike Brown on the 6-under.
04:01So let's look back to Joe Yurdsley.
04:02We've got the helmet facing camera there now as he tries to get into Marlecu.
04:05And what happened there?
04:07Did he tuck the front? Did the front go?
04:09I'm not 100% sure.
04:10Hopefully not too much damage to him anyway.
04:12We're on board with Marcus Simpson now.
04:14Indeed, let's just see what happens up ahead,
04:16and whoa, just lost the back end a little bit there.
04:19Big lock up at the back end, in fact.
04:24Michael Sweeney leads across the line,
04:25then it's Mike Brown, then it's Michael Dunlop,
04:27three Michaels at the front, then it's Sean Anderson,
04:29then it's Connor Cummins, your top five as a complete lap number one of five.
04:33But there are Sweeney leads, Brown, Dunlop, Anderson and Cummins.
04:36Absolutely Sweeney, then whoa, big moment up over the rollers,
04:39and Dunlop in third place will want to be getting closer to him if he can.
04:43It's a five lap race, so there is time.
04:45Yeah, three seconds, covers the top five in areas.
04:48Kevin Keyes, newcomer at the Tandegui 100,
04:50he's coming to the Southern 100 in a couple of weeks as well.
04:53He's got Barry Ferber.
04:54Barry, a good runner on that super twin race,
04:56on that super twin bike, should I say.
04:58He'll be one to watch in the other classes,
05:00but Barry, a nice and steady runner,
05:01but Michael Dunlop looking a bit menacing there on Mike Brown.
05:04Kevin Keyes once again as we see him,
05:06he's looking very neat and tidy, isn't he?
05:08Really composed.
05:09He had a good TT, did Kevin.
05:11Very, very happy with all his performances.
05:13I think he won the RST award as well,
05:15so well done, Timber.
05:16There we go.
05:17There is the bull.
05:18I said it at the North Race 200,
05:19he is the charging bull, and when he senses it,
05:22he's going for it.
05:23Michael Sweeney better look out.
05:24Yeah, you can see this road still looking slightly damp,
05:27but Dunlop's not hanging around at all.
05:29He'll be targeting Sweeney and that race lead.
05:31As we watch Liam Chalk go through around Marlecoot corner there now.
05:35Not sure that was just in behind him.
05:37Good to see Chalky back out on the Irish roads,
05:39but Michael Sweeney is going to have Michael Dunlop accompany very,
05:42very shortly.
05:43Sean Anderson in there, Ryan Whitehall,
05:45Neil Kernaghan, Kevin Keyes, Andy Farrell,
05:47all around the top ten.
05:48But I tell you, they've all bunched up again, haven't they?
05:50Absolutely.
05:51I tell you, Mike Brown is not letting them go at all, is he?
05:54Kevin Keyes just going under.
05:56Neil Kernaghan there into Castle.
05:58So, Neil Kernaghan, the man from just up Balamone,
06:00he'll be looking forward to the Armoyed Road Races in July.
06:03He drops a place, but he's got Barry Furber just in behind him.
06:06Here comes the ball, Michael Dunlop.
06:09Yeah, making a bit of a charge on Michael Sweeney.
06:11Michael will know he's there.
06:12He will feel those piercing eyes, the MBE piercing eyes.
06:16That's the first time Dunlop's had a look at him.
06:18It won't be the last, I don't think, at all.
06:20As we look back to Michael Sweeney on the MJRBM,
06:23they're both on very, very similar spec machines.
06:26The Southern Irishman again to Northern Irishman.
06:28And then there's another Southern Irishman.
06:30That's Mike Brown.
06:31He's currently in third.
06:32And he's keeping, we're on board with them now on the BPAE
06:34by Russell Racing Bike.
06:36We're keeping a little eye on what's going there.
06:37And Michael Sweeney is going to have to look out
06:39because Michael Dunlop is looking to move.
06:41He's getting right into the slipstream.
06:43I talk about slipstreaming when we go to places like
06:45the North West Haunted.
06:46But that looks to me like Michael Dunlop has got past him.
06:48He's pulled to the inside.
06:50And I think Michael Dunlop, Chris Boyd, has got to the lead.
06:52Over the top of the crest, he's made it stick.
06:54Dunlop leads out on lap three of five.
06:57Yeah, I wonder where Michael Sweeney thought that was coming.
06:59But I bet he was expecting it.
07:00He'll obviously be getting the boards, et cetera, through.
07:02As we go through Castle there now.
07:04So we do have a new race leader in this McCrums Suzuki Open.
07:08And it's Michael Dunlop.
07:09Who'd have thought it?
07:10Well, all of us really.
07:11Absolutely.
07:12He's finally got to the front of the race.
07:14And now he's got to stick with it.
07:16Try and maybe just gap Sweeney a little bit if he can.
07:18Make it a little bit more comfortable for himself.
07:20But Cook Brown is hanging on there in third as well.
07:23But Connor Cummins behind that.
07:25Yeah, keep an eye on the two guys there.
07:27Marcus Simpson.
07:28He's flying well, isn't he, on that Honda.
07:30He really, really just shows you.
07:31Look how much that suspension's running.
07:33Somebody's suspension is running.
07:34Hot as anything is Michael Dunlop as he goes in the belt's cross.
07:37Absolutely.
07:38Onto lap four then.
07:39Sweeney, though, is not giving this up, is he?
07:41Sweeney is pushing to try and stick with him.
07:43Going as far as he can.
07:44Oh, he's getting right with him, in fact.
07:46Yeah, let's look at this split.
07:48Send Dunlop lead Sweeney from Brown, from Anderson and Cummins.
07:510.313.
07:52Then it's 1.3 back to Brown.
07:532.2 back to Anderson and 2.5 back to Cummins.
07:56A close race we said it was going to be, didn't we?
07:58Absolutely.
07:59And Sweeney is sticking with Dunlop.
08:00This is really impressive stuff from Sweeney on the MJRBMW.
08:04And we're with Connor Cummins now.
08:06Connor's on a bit of a charge.
08:07You can see him.
08:08He's riding this year for the Burrows RK Racing Team.
08:11He had a bit of a steady TT, did Connor, but he's happy.
08:13He's gelling with the team.
08:14He's only been with them for a couple of months.
08:16But Michael Dunlop, he has to lead.
08:17Look at the way he spins that right foot out when he goes hard on the brakes on the Michael Dunlop machine.
08:22Love to see that Carl Cox Motorsport banner on the side of the machine.
08:25But Sean Anderson is now on the back of Mike Brown.
08:27He is indeed.
08:28You can see, though, that Dunlop is trying really hard here.
08:31And Sweeney is not letting him go.
08:33He's sticking with him.
08:34Sweeney is really pushing as well.
08:36But Dunlop holds on to that lead.
08:38Yeah, following Marcus Simpson is going through Marlecu.
08:40They're now a bit of an out-of-the-seat moment there for Marcus Simpson.
08:43But we're back on board with a BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha.
08:46But there we go.
08:47We did say of Mike Brown that Sean Anderson has got past him.
08:50Sean with lots and lots of knowledge around the circuit.
08:52But look at that.
08:53Mike catches right back in on him again.
08:55But Sean with the extra power of the big team classic Suzuki just pulling away.
08:59But then there's another big fella right behind him.
09:02And he'll be looking to get past him as well.
09:03And that's Connor coming down, Mike Brown.
09:05Sean Anderson.
09:06Where's he going?
09:07I think he's going home.
09:08Sean Anderson straight on at Castle.
09:10That means he's going to drop right down.
09:13Andy Farrell there, Kevin Keyes on the number five in 2-2-2.
09:17Also in there as well.
09:18That's Michael Garn in there too.
09:20And we've also got the back of that little group with a lot of dust being kicked up.
09:23Neil Koenig and Big Neil on the number 109.
09:25I think he's just about to make a move on Mike Garn.
09:27Yes, he does.
09:28Does Big Neil.
09:29Gets that move done.
09:30But it's final lap time out front.
09:32We're on board with Mike Brown.
09:34But it's what's happening up front as Connor Cummins does come blazing past.
09:38Yeah, Connor Cummins using the extra speed of the big BMW for Connor.
09:42So Connor now up to third place.
09:43John and the team at the Burrows team will be happy.
09:45There's Andy Farrell, Kevin Keyes, Neil Kernahan and Michael Garn as they bounce into Marlecoo.
09:50Once more, Neil Kernahan's on the charge, isn't he?
09:52But here comes Michael Dunlop on the sixth with number 65.
09:55That, of course, is Michael Sweeney slotting in behind him.
09:58And it will be the chequered flag.
09:59Michael Dunlop takes the race win, Chris Boyd.
10:01And a new lap record though for second place, man.
10:03But quickly, Connor Cummins.
10:05Mike Brown had a little up, but that'll give Connor Cummins a lot of confidence.
10:08Getting to third place as a BMW 1-2-3.
10:13Michael Dunlop took the race win in the McCrums Suzuki Open,
10:15but new lap record went to Michael Sweeney, only half a second back.
10:18Then it's Connor Cummins, Mike Brown, Marcus Simpson, Sean Anderson,
10:21Ryan Whitehall, Neil Kernahan, Kevin Keyes, Top Ten, Skerry's man Andy Farrell.
10:26Connor, it's been a long time since you've been here.
10:29How nice to get on the podium.
10:31Oh, it's brilliant after an 18-year lay-off.
10:34But the pace here is very, very good.
10:37Obviously, I've got Michael, two Michaels and a load of other lads going fast.
10:41So I'm happy to get on the podium for the Borough's Engineer and RK Racing.
10:46Yeah, I think I want more of that. It's good. Enjoyed it.
10:50Michael, congratulations. That was one heck of a race.
10:53Thanks very much, Stephen. It just makes up for the race earlier.
10:56I really, really enjoyed that with Michael.
10:58I knew he was going to come at some stage,
11:00but I had a plan to get off the line and try to lead it for a couple of laps
11:03and then for Michael to pass me to drag me away from the group behind me.
11:06That was my plan, but to stick with him is just brilliant.
11:09Just really happy to stick with him.
11:11We had a bit of a battle on the last lap.
11:13He looked behind, going down the back straight
11:15and I was on the other side of him and I passed him.
11:17And then he just came back up underneath me, unbelievable.
11:20And then just to follow him around here is unbelievable.
11:23What does it mean to you to break the lap record here at Tandragui?
11:27Do you know what, Stephen, my good friend, Dan and Ian,
11:29had the lap record, you know, a long time now.
11:32And to think of him, I'd say he's looking down and saying, go on, boy.
11:35But yeah, I'm over the moon to get it, especially on the big bike as well.
11:38So I'm over the moon.
11:39Well done.
11:40Thanks very much. Cheers.
11:41How much did you enjoy the battle with Michael Sweeney?
11:45The rider you know well.
11:46I know, when I passed him, I just said, I'll sort of stick around
11:49because, you know, he likes to sort of tag on anyway.
11:51So no point in busting the gut.
11:52And made him a problem we've had with selector problems
11:55and we had a bit of an issue coming out onto the back straight.
11:57Michael was there and he came alongside me.
11:59I thought, well, I'm going to have to do him into his left, right.
12:01So I did it in there, but I knew he was going to be close.
12:03So yeah, he, you know, he's riding well for a play to me.
12:05He likes to be national roads.
12:06He's at them all the weekend and he's riding well.
12:09Just how hard did you have to push for that victory?
12:11He broke the lap record in the race.
12:13I told him along as I seen on my dash that I was in the lap
12:17and then I knew Michael would just cling along.
12:19He's good at that.
12:20He's able to sit in.
12:21But if we can cure these issues, I'm going to pull the pin on the big one
12:24and see what sort of lap we can do.
12:26Yeah, it doesn't matter where you're racing.
12:27Winning's always nice, is it?
12:28Oh, it's nice to win here.
12:29You know what I mean?
12:30It's nice to be still winning at national races.
12:32So we'll keep at it.
12:37Next up, it's the Super Twins.
12:39And a short delay to this race as riders are allowed to select which tyre they would like to run.
12:46The event has been declared wet because of the rain this morning.
12:50There's still a little surface water around this circuit in places.
12:54Michael Sweeney in pole position has opted to stay on a slick tyre alongside him on the front row.
13:00Daryl Tweed has gone for the treaded option.
13:03This race should be a good one.
13:05There he is, Michael Sweeney, the man for the scaries.
13:08How great was it to see him on the podium?
13:10And we've got two podium men from the Northwestern 100, and they're away.
13:13Not a good start for Barry Ferber, though.
13:14Sweeney makes a flyer there, but then on the outside it looks like it may have been Ferber who was getting away the best.
13:20We'll wait to see a shot at the front of the field, but this is going to be really close.
13:24Super twin lap record is Adam McLean from 2018, 104.374, but a good start by Manxman Joe Yertsley.
13:30Blasts the Aprilia to the front as they go up over the rollers.
13:33It's Sean Broly, we're looking back from here.
13:36And that's Adam Whitehall, the Isle of White rider.
13:40Yertsley then continues to lead, but it's not for long.
13:44He's had it all up the inside, goes Tweed, Tweed snatches the lead.
13:48Tweed snatches the lead, and we just mentioned about Ian Locker.
13:50Ian Locker's actually in this race himself, so the old dog's still going.
13:53And Joe Yertsley, Michael Sweeney nearly coming to blows on the far side of the circuit.
13:58But Daryl Tweed, he looks a bit racy. Let's look at this, Boydie.
14:01Yersley just holds it out to the left-hand side on the Scott Racing affiliate.
14:05He leaves the gap, and Tweed doesn't need to be asked twice.
14:08Look who's just coming in behind them as well.
14:10In shot, 65, Michael Sweeney after a bad start.
14:13Barry Ferber, he's coming up as well. He was way, way back.
14:16But Michael Sweeney, he's now coming up, up the inside.
14:19There he goes. He's got Passam in castle corner.
14:21Joe Yertsley demoted one place. Here comes Mikko Sweeney.
14:24Oh, there Joe goes back. Wow, what drive out of that Aprilia.
14:28Absolutely, Yersley's not giving this up at all.
14:30He's grabbed that second place back, but now they need to get about Tweed in the lead.
14:34Don't forget that little Aprilia was in bits after the TT, the little RS 660,
14:38when it blew up spectacularly on the Cronk of Audi straight.
14:41But the race leader, that's Daryl Tweed dropping in the Cooley Hill cross.
14:45He's well away here. The others have got to try and work to get towards him.
14:48Sweeney, in particular, will be desperate to try and get back past Joe Yersley
14:52and try and make an impression on the lead.
14:54He goes for it. Oh, he has to back out of it.
14:56Yeah, he does have to back out of it. You've got to be really careful there.
14:58The circuit tightens right up and is going to open up again now.
15:01And this is a chance for him to break. He'll go over the jumps here now.
15:04But we go back to number seven. That, of course, is Dave Walsh
15:07and also number 92 now as well. That's Noel Carroll.
15:10Guys like that are the stalwarts of the Irish road racing scene.
15:13But back we go at the front. Here goes Sweeney.
15:15Sweeney up the right-hand side and gets past Yersley and away.
15:19And now he'll get after Tweed. What's the gap there?
15:21What would you say? That's about a second and a half, would you say?
15:24Maybe, maybe, but then there's the right gaggle behind.
15:26It's not just Yersley. There's also, obviously, Barry Ferber in there as well,
15:30as others, all desperate to try and make an impression on this lead.
15:33One, two, three, Marcus Simpson, Manxman, he's in there too as well,
15:36making his second appearance here, I think, at the Tantogi 100.
15:40But Barry Ferber from a pretty bad start at the gap, though.
15:42I said it was about two seconds. It's 1.8.
15:44Big wheelie being pulled over the rollers there
15:47as they head on into the second lap of this Super Twin race.
15:51Let's have a little look then.
15:52So it's Tweed, and then it's Sweeney, and then it is Yersley at the moment.
15:56And there he is.
15:57Look at that old face underneath that crash helmet.
15:59The late little racing leathers is on.
16:01It's Ian Locker. Sir Ian Locker.
16:03I think he should be by now with what he's done for motorsport over the years.
16:06Daryl Tweed has got Mick Sweeney, Micko Sweeney trouble now, hasn't he?
16:11Absolutely. And they head out onto the penultimate lap.
16:14And, well, Tweed's just got to do what he can out front
16:17and hope he can hold off Sweeney.
16:18But Sweeney looks like he's got plenty in hand here.
16:20He certainly does, and you just jump over that to the right-hand side of the tyre
16:23and then lift the front wheel.
16:24He's keeping into his wheel tracks.
16:26Obviously, you're not going to be like the North West 200
16:28or the Ulster in place like that.
16:29There's no real slipstreaming goes on here.
16:31Michael Sweeney's got a lot of circuit knowledge.
16:33But then again, Daryl Tweed, he's got great circuit knowledge.
16:36I'm waiting for that.
16:37There he is!
16:38Michael Sweeney cuts to the left-hand side,
16:40pops the front wheel and clears away.
16:42So, Michael Sweeney now leads.
16:44Oh, the bang then!
16:45When Daryl Tweed's machine bottomed out through those yumps.
16:48Incredible.
16:49Absolutely.
16:50Sweeney then into the lead of this race
16:52as we next see Andy Hornby heading up through the start-finish.
16:57Hornby away out onto his third lap.
17:01Here's the move.
17:02Here's the opportunity.
17:03Yeah, where Sweeney took the opportunity up over the rise,
17:05got the front wheel pouring the air and was away and gone.
17:09And now Tweed gets a chance possibly.
17:11Looks up the inside.
17:13Yes!
17:14Oh, and then runs wide and Sweeney just carries on.
17:17Oh, well, he gave it everything there.
17:19He certainly did.
17:20On the brakes there, into that corner there, it's Marlecu.
17:22You've got to watch out because there's a damp patch on the inside
17:25and that, I think, is what put Daryl Tweed off
17:27and just squeezing that front brake just a little bit more.
17:30But in the meantime, here we go.
17:31Let's watch it again.
17:32He's set this up there now.
17:33Straightens the bike up hard on the brakes.
17:35He thinks, oh, here we go.
17:36I'm having a go at this damp patch there,
17:38just by that little yellow grid,
17:39and that's where he had to back the machine in.
17:41Lucky he didn't go up on the grass
17:42because that's going to be pretty slippy.
17:43Mikko Sweeney is getting away.
17:47Joe Yerzi past Barry Ferber there now,
17:49so the Aprilia just getting ahead of the R7 Yamaha.
17:53But here we go.
17:54It is the last time now.
17:55Down into Bell's crossover to Mikko Sweeney.
17:57Oh, he's gone.
17:58Oh, he's lost the front, but he picks it up.
18:00And it's Daryl Tweed who takes the race win.
18:02Michael Sweeney, not a happy camper at all,
18:04but what a mistake.
18:05Don't often see Mikko Sweeney make mistakes like that.
18:08But who, Chris Boyd, is going to get third place?
18:10Joe Yerzi is on it at the moment.
18:12It is, but Ferber's got him at the final corner.
18:14It's Ferber who puts the foot out to say sorry,
18:17but it is enough for him to take the final podium place.
18:20Yeah, Joe Yerzi just in behind.
18:21Then it's Marcus Simpson in there as well,
18:23but a win for Daryl Tweed by 1.5 seconds.
18:25Michael Sweeney, Barry Ferber in number 40 in third-inch,
18:28Joe Yerzi, Marcus Simpson, Neil Kernaghan, Sean Brawley,
18:31Andy Farrell, Ryan Whitehall, and your top ten, Liam Chalk.
18:36Daryl, congratulations. What a race.
18:38Oh, a brilliant race there between myself and Mikko.
18:41He was just very unlucky.
18:42He ran on there at last corner and gifted me the win.
18:45So, very happy.
18:46Was that all down to the pressure you were exerting on him last lap?
18:49Well, last lap I had a go at him,
18:51so I did into the first road end up there,
18:53and I overshot myself.
18:55So, I had to do a lot of hard work to get back on his back wheel,
18:58because he's riding great in them conditions he is,
19:00especially with full slicks on.
19:02So, aye, he'd done well,
19:03and I was doing well to keep with him, to be fair.
19:05I know this is one of your favourite circuits,
19:07so it must be really nice to get a race win here.
19:09Ah, it's absolutely awesome to get a race win here at Tanner Gee,
19:12especially in the Novo Jemba FAO super twin here.
19:16They're a new team,
19:17so they are into the road racing circuit.
19:19So, delighted for them and delighted for myself.
19:21Michael.
19:22Say it.
19:23Commiserations.
19:24Thanks, Stephen.
19:25What happened?
19:26Just, I out broke myself on the last tour,
19:29and I just...
19:30I knew I'd a bit of...
19:31Daryl tried to out-break me down below in the Marlekeau,
19:34and he out-broke himself,
19:35and I knew he was going to try to dive on me up in the last corner,
19:38so I kind of held a tight line and said I'd break a bit late,
19:41but the thing wouldn't stop him.
19:43So, I kind of...
19:44He pulled a gap at the start,
19:45just with the web hatches,
19:46I just wasn't confident on him.
19:47So, I knew if I got to the front,
19:48I can control the web hatches,
19:50and then with the speed of the bike,
19:51we can get away,
19:52but unfortunately,
19:53I didn't have to brake late,
19:54but I did,
19:55and I overshot.
19:56Still a great race though.
19:57That was a good race,
19:58yeah, it was a good race.
19:59Enjoyed it.
20:03So, a superb Super Twins race,
20:05won by a smiling Daryl Tweed.
20:07Michael Sweeney still kicking himself for that last corner mistake.
20:12And Tweed went on to secure another podium in the classic Super Bike race,
20:17which was won by Sean Anderson.
20:19His bike causing quite a stir in County Armagh,
20:23the Rotary Norton,
20:24made famous by riders like Robert Dunlop,
20:27who won two races at the Northwest 200 on a similar machine to JPS Norton in 1990.
20:35Nice nostalgia,
20:36as Anderson took a start to finish victory.
20:39Well, next up,
20:41it's the Super Sport race.
20:43Mike Brown is the pole sitter,
20:45but the real intrigue around this race is about Michael Dunlop.
20:49Due to his qualifying,
20:50he's starting way back in the second wave,
20:53but a rider can win a race here on corrected time.
20:57So this should be very interesting.
21:00Let's see how Dunlop and the race get on.
21:04Well, another bit of drama at the start here.
21:06We've got no Michael Sweeney in the front of the front row
21:08on the number 65 by Daryl Tweed.
21:10He's looking mean,
21:11as is Connor Cummings in behind him on 11.
21:13Mike Brown then looking to make a charger of a start,
21:16and he does.
21:17Certainly does.
21:18Let's have a look at the lap record.
21:20Supersport Michael Dunlop, 2011.
21:23Yeah.
21:24108.367.
21:26257.522.
21:28But it's Mike Brown with Connor Cummings second.
21:3031 Sean Anson fault in the middle of those two.
21:32Daryl Tweed again showing well.
21:34Showing really well.
21:35Great start by Connor Cummings to get up to second
21:37and try and challenge Brown as we see Dunlop
21:39get away in the second wave.
21:41He'll have an advantage here
21:42because he gets away from all this traffic,
21:43which he has done straight away with 91.
21:45Graham McAleese slotting in just behind him
21:47and also number 45 in there too.
21:49He's got advantage of a clear track
21:51and not being held up.
21:52At the moment, he has.
21:53It's a five lap race,
21:54so he may well come across traffic later on.
21:56Yeah, I'd say he will do to be fair.
21:58Probably about two or three laps in
21:59because there is a certain distance
22:01between the first group going
22:02and the second group.
22:03For those who don't understand,
22:04they start the first wave
22:05and then they start the second wave.
22:06And then you can...
22:07Oh, somebody goes straight on there.
22:08I think that's Sean Anderson.
22:09Yeah, it was Sean Anderson on the Suzuki.
22:11He just goes a little bit straight on there
22:13at Marlecu corner.
22:14Yeah, so it's two waves,
22:15so the second wave couldn't be at the front.
22:17On board with Daryl Tweed then
22:19as we see Dunlop now
22:20already gapping the rest of that second wave.
22:22And as you say,
22:23he's now just got to get his head down
22:25and ride as hard as he can.
22:26He's not had a bad couple of months really.
22:2733 wins at the TT
22:29and MBE in the pocket.
22:30You know he's doing all right, isn't he?
22:31He is. He's surviving, isn't he?
22:32Kevin Keyes, he's going well
22:34on the Daracor racing machine as well.
22:35Good team that he's got himself in with there.
22:37That's Andy Farrell, that is.
22:39Andy Farrell.
22:40Do you know what?
22:41Andy's had some big, big crashes
22:42over the past couple of years,
22:43but you know what?
22:44He is a road racer.
22:45And he's a tryer, isn't he?
22:46Absolutely try.
22:47Gives it 10 tenths every single time
22:49he's out on any of the bikes
22:51as Mike Brown leads the way.
22:53Just coming across you there.
22:54Slotting into around that top ten position.
22:56Ryan Whitehall, 361, 164.
22:58Steven Tobin, you mentioned him at the start.
22:59Paul Cranston on 93.
23:01He's also in as well.
23:02Paul, how many miles has he done
23:03around race circuits over the years?
23:05I remember him winning a 7-100 in the early 80s.
23:0740 plus years he's been racing
23:09and he's still out there and still competitive.
23:11Mike Brown, he'll obviously know.
23:13They'll be giving him boards
23:14to tell him exactly where Michael Dunlop is.
23:16But on the road, it's Brown, Cummins and Tweed.
23:18They're the one, two, three at the moment.
23:20But we'll be waiting for the corrected time.
23:22We've got Sean Anderson in there as well.
23:24He made a bit of a mistake earlier on,
23:25did Sean at Marlecu.
23:26But this is the bike we're looking for
23:28to Michael Dunlop and to Cooley Hillcross.
23:30And of course, you're going to have to factor him
23:32into the leaderboards as we go lap by lap
23:34because he'll be giving that time back
23:36for the gaff that he had at the start.
23:38But it is Brown who's away,
23:40off out onto his second lap.
23:42He's absolutely charging here,
23:43but he probably knows that Dunlop's in that second wave.
23:45And so you can't count on the fact
23:47that you're leaving on the road
23:48because Dunlop's in this race somewhere.
23:50Well, we mentioned there,
23:51Dan Neen with a great affection.
23:53Dan won one of the races at the Cooke's Down 100,
23:55a good few years ago in the second wave.
23:56I think Bruce Anstey won an Ulster Grand Prix.
23:58Michael Dunlop's on the move, Chris Boyd.
24:00He's up into second place overall on the race, effectively,
24:03although he's coming from further behind.
24:05He's lying in second place.
24:063.2 seconds down on Brown.
24:10This is a battle,
24:11and Michael Dunlop's in behind the battle of because.
24:13Kevin Keyes, Ryan Whitehall, Stevie Tovin, Paul Cranston.
24:16He's just got past Paul Cranston as he goes into Markaloo,
24:19but now dropping down into Cooley Hillcross
24:21is Conor Cummins at Ducati sounding fantastic.
24:24They're having their own private duel out on the roads
24:27at Tandraguia, Cummins and Tweed,
24:29while Michael Bradd out in front,
24:30unsure of what's happening with Dunlop behind.
24:33And he's just got past Kevin Keyes as Michael Dunlop up the inside,
24:36and now he's chasing another rider down.
24:38Not sure who's in front of Kevin Keyes.
24:39I think it's Andy Farrell from the Scaries Wow.
24:41They weren't behind him for long.
24:43Turbo mode, absolute turbo mode.
24:45It's Michael Garn and also at 93, Paul Cranston on the Kawasaki,
24:51the ZX6, the ex-Makadoo machine.
24:53He's on that there is Paul Cranston.
24:55Do you know what? He's still got it, hasn't he?
24:57But Mike Brown at the front has its under control,
25:00I think, this race, this opening Supersport encounter.
25:03Six and a bit seconds it was at the end of the start,
25:06sorry, of this last lap here for the Supersports.
25:09It is, of course, a rapid international Supersports.
25:11Six seconds.
25:12I think it's a bit too much for Michael Dunlop to get back
25:14when Mike Brown's doing pretty similar paces anyway.
25:16But I tell you what, Chris Bore dropping into Cooley Hill,
25:18he's flying.
25:19He is absolutely looking racy as well,
25:21but I don't think he's going to be able to do too much
25:23as Mike Brown comes into Bells Cross for the final time.
25:27Across the line he goes, checkered flag goes.
25:29So this is the important part there now,
25:30as the Marshalls come out with the red flag.
25:32He won't know he's won as of yet.
25:34He'll be stopped there by the officials.
25:35Looked like a bit of a stoppie there from Mike Brown,
25:37gets the cheers of the crowd,
25:38but it's Michael Dunlop we're looking out for.
25:40Connor Cummins second on the road,
25:41Daryl Tweed third on the road,
25:43but we're holding on,
25:45obviously for Michael Dunlop to come through.
25:47Where's he going to finish?
25:48Oh, seconds by three and a half foot.
25:50Chris Boyd, look at that last lap.
25:52A new lap record for Michael Dunlop,
25:54250, 6.045, 109.276 miles per hour.
25:59Brown from Dunlop from Cummins,
26:00and Tweed from Anderson your top five.
26:04Mate, congratulations.
26:05So satisfying is that race win.
26:07Yeah, look, it was very satisfying to be honest.
26:10You know, I got out in front there in a clear road
26:12and no better track to be off on your own.
26:14So I was happy with that.
26:16When your nearest competitor is in the second wave,
26:18how difficult is it to judge?
26:21It's not difficult for me really.
26:23That's his problem.
26:24You know, I just led my own race.
26:26I knew I had the pace to win in the first superbike race there.
26:33We were under the lap record,
26:34so I just watched my board
26:36and the boys were keeping an eye on Michael, obviously.
26:39But no, it's nice to get a win on a proper 600.
26:42And nice for the team, obviously, as well, local team.
26:45Yeah, look, I'm delighted for the team.
26:47I didn't have a great start to the year,
26:49so this is nice just to pay them off.
26:51Michael, how difficult a race is that to gauge
26:55when you're starting second wave?
26:57The gauge was fine.
26:58It's just the traffic.
26:59You know, the amount of traffic you're hitting.
27:00With the roads being so tight,
27:01they obviously wanted to put me in the back of the first group,
27:03and I think somebody protested about that,
27:05so they put me on the second group.
27:06So you have to have a bit dangerous, you know,
27:08when you're catching people,
27:09and then you're catching people in real bad areas
27:10and you just lose so much time.
27:11But, you know, when I had, even the last lap,
27:13I hadn't a free lap,
27:14but I had a bit of as good a free lap
27:15when we broke the lap record, you know,
27:17nearly two seconds.
27:18So it just goes to show the pace we should have had at the front,
27:20you know what I mean?
27:21But, hey, look, it's just the way it was,
27:23the way the organisers have done it.
27:24And how satisfying to break that lap record?
27:26Yeah, no, we knew we would go quick.
27:28It was just disappointing for the lads
27:30that we had a wee bit of an issue yesterday.
27:32We got no lap time,
27:33and then obviously somebody complaining about it
27:35that set us in the second group.
27:36But, hey, listen, that's the game.
27:37It's not the end of the world.
27:38But I was sort of glad to get a lap of the last
27:40just to see if we could have a proper run
27:42to see what we could do.
27:43And Phil, we could probably win quicker again.
27:45It's just Pat who hadn't six laps instead of five.
27:51Well, it's time for the final race of the day,
27:54and it's the big one,
27:56the around-a-pound Tandrigui 100.
27:59And it's a race that has been won by many
28:01of our most famous road racers,
28:03including Ryan Farquhar,
28:05Philip McCallan and Richard Britton.
28:08And there's a great Dunlop heritage to this race as well.
28:11Michael Dunlop's won it twice before.
28:13His late brother, William Dunlop, won it 10 years ago.
28:17And his uncle, Joey Dunlop, won it 30 years ago.
28:21So let's see how the drama unfolds today.
28:25Here we go, 5.3 miles around this Tandrigui 100 circuit.
28:28Wow, big wheelie, big, big wheelie for Mikko Sweeney.
28:31But it looks to me like Michael Dunlop has the lead.
28:33He does.
28:34Sean Anderson slots in the third.
28:36And then it is the RK Racing, the Burrows team of Connor Cummins.
28:40He slots in the fourth place.
28:41Michael Dunlop out of the seat.
28:43Drama on the first lap.
28:45We're only a third of the way in.
28:46Pushing right from the start.
28:48Sweeney got that huge wheelie as the second wave gets underway.
28:51And that'll now Dunlop to get away and grab a lead.
28:54And it's Michael Dunlop into Marlecoo corner for lap number one
28:57with Michael Sweeney 65 in second place.
29:00Then it's 11, Connor Cummins in third.
29:02Then it's Sean Anderson in there, Marcus Simpson in there too.
29:05And a pretty good start, I think, by 361.
29:07Ryan Whitehall is also in there as well.
29:09But look how close Michael Sweeney and Michael Dunlop was off the line.
29:13That's close.
29:16And noticeably drier roads now than it was in the earlier open race,
29:20bone-dry conditions.
29:21Absolutely perfect to go racing.
29:23Michael Sweeney having a lot of handling problems
29:25at the Isle of Man TT a couple of months ago,
29:27but he seems to got that settled now on the MJR racing machine.
29:30But it's Michael Dunlop.
29:32He's keeping them honest.
29:33Micko Sweeney is definitely keeping them honest,
29:35as is Connor Cummins and Sean Anderson.
29:37They're battling like they did in the first Superbike race.
29:39We are.
29:40We've got two scraps going on.
29:41Dunlop and Sweeney, Cummins and Anderson.
29:43And we want Sweeney to keep Dunlop honest.
29:45We want an absolute tear up for the Dandrick E100.
29:47Certainly do.
29:48We've got Kevin Keyes in there.
29:49Ryan Whitehall, 36180.
29:51Barry Ferber, 222.
29:52Michael Garn, 29.
29:53Rich McLaughlin.
29:54But it's Michael Dunlop who just about leads on lap number one
29:58as you go into Bell's Crossroads for lap one.
30:00Micko Sweeney, though, there's nothing between them.
30:02We'll get the graphic in a minute as Connor's there.
30:04Connor's staying pretty close as well.
30:06And I think that was Sweeney with a move possibly.
30:08We'll get that confirmed.
30:09But number five, Kevin Keyes.
30:11Oh, that's a great move up the inside of Barry Ferber, isn't it?
30:14That was for eighth and ninth.
30:16Keyes in eighth.
30:17Ferber in ninth.
30:18And as you say, terrific move.
30:19But it's at the front that we're really wanting to see here.
30:22Did Sweeney make that move on Dunlop?
30:24It looked like he maybe had to just back out of it,
30:26but we'll see when we next pick them up.
30:28109, Neil Kernaghan in there as well.
30:30Neil going well as he always does on the R1.
30:32Yamaha's got a new Aprilia RS660 for the Super Twin class this year,
30:36has Neil.
30:37But there's Barry Ferber again out on the big bike this time.
30:40Always good on the Super Twins is Barry Ferber.
30:42But that is a great camera shot.
30:44And you just see how hard that rear tire is having to work.
30:47The suspension working so, so hard to keep traction.
30:50Barry Ferber has had plenty of laps in across the day
30:52and he's using those to full advantage here
30:55as he tries to close in on Kevin Keyes,
30:57who himself has had a great day so far racing here at Tandrigui.
31:00So it was Michael Dunlop, we're keeping a little line,
31:02but it was Michael Sweeney who got that lap record
31:04in the first Superbike race.
31:05Ooh, somebody just running out.
31:07Yeah, underneath there.
31:08Kevin Keyes getting underneath Neil Kernaghan.
31:10This is a repeat, these three, of the first Superbike race.
31:13But it is Michael Dunlop that leads into Bells Cross,
31:16lap number two.
31:17Dunlop then, as you say, leading out onto lap three.
31:20And it's a new lap record for Michael Dunlop.
31:22Outright lap record.
31:23Two minutes, 54.1.
31:251.1 seconds quicker than Michael Sweeney was in the open race
31:29earlier in the day.
31:31Sweeney is also inside his old lap record that had only lasted a few hours.
31:351.1 seconds.
31:37Incredible.
31:38That BMW is absolutely flying.
31:40So Connor Cummins, he's got Sean Anderson for company now.
31:43Connor in third.
31:44Sean Anderson, number 31.
31:45He's in fourth.
31:46And we've got Marcus Simpson, Kevin Keyes, Ryan Whitehall,
31:48Barry Ferber, Michael Garn and Richard McLaughlin completing your top ten.
31:52And there is Ryan Whitehall just ahead of Kevin Keyes here at the Tandrigui 100 for 2025.
31:58But Michael Dunlop pulling a little lead into Marlecoo.
32:01He is, but Sweeney's not letting him go again.
32:03Sweeney's trying to stick with him as best he can.
32:06Gets the head down again.
32:07Out onto the lap as we see this huge battle as well,
32:10just behind for third and fourth between Cummins and Anderson.
32:13They're having a terrific scrap.
32:14Yeah, Suzuki against the BMW, the Burrows RK racing machine of the Manxman,
32:19the Ramsey Rocket, Connor Cummins.
32:21But Sean Anderson knows his way around these streets, tracks,
32:24these, what do you call it, farm lanes around the Tandrigui 100.
32:27He was brought up not far away from the village.
32:29Cummins then is doing very well,
32:31bringing his knowledge from the Isle of Man across to Tandrigui
32:34on the Burrows machine as we see Dunlop and Sweeney still right together
32:38as they head out onto the narrow part of this course.
32:40Yeah, only a couple of points between them as he's going to Castle this time.
32:44Connor with that BMW nicely planted on the brakes there.
32:47No squirrelly stuff, but Sean Anderson, he's sniffing.
32:50We've got number 139 just gone through there.
32:52Dermot Cleary, we've got 35 and we've got 91.
32:5591, of course, is Graham McAleese and also 35 in there, Daniel Ingham.
32:59We've got a retirement, Chris.
33:00Graham McAleese as Michael Dunlop comes to reach half distance.
33:03He is gapping Sweeney a little bit.
33:06Dunlop through and out onto the fourth lap,
33:08but it's Sweeney with a new outright lap record.
33:11The lap record only lasted two minutes, 55 seconds.
33:13It's now 2.53.3 and Dunlop was inside what he had done on the previous lap as well.
33:18This is amazing.
33:20Michael with two wheels in the air as they go across the jumps there now
33:23as he settles the bikes up again.
33:25The left-hander and the rear tyre was kicking up there.
33:28You can see it kicking up stones as he tried to scrabble for grip.
33:31Cummins and Anderson still having their battle for third and fourth.
33:35Cummins maybe just moving a little bit clear of Anderson.
33:38Then Marcus Simpson and Ryan Whitehall rounding out the top six at half distance.
33:42Sounded to me as Conor went into that corner.
33:44He had a little bit of a problem there, seemed to miss a gear,
33:46maybe a false neutral, but it has let Sean Anderson through
33:49and here's a good battle between your two young guns,
33:51Kevin Keyes and Ryan Whitehall.
33:53Ryan, of course, from the Isle of Wight.
33:55Kevin, of course, Southern Irishman, great rider.
33:57His good young talent coming through.
33:59Well, Sweeney just set the NU outright lap record at 2.53.3 on lap three.
34:04Where it'll last at the end of the race even, we don't know
34:07because Dunlop looks to have the power absolutely on.
34:10Two seconds is off the old Dan Neen lap record from 2018, 2.55.5,
34:15but Conor Cummins is not giving up on that podium slot
34:18as they go into Castle where Sean Anderson went straight on earlier on in the day
34:22in the classic Superbike race, and that is a good couple of seconds now
34:26that Michael Dunlop has over Mikko Sweeney.
34:28He's got this one in the bag, hasn't he?
34:30You'd think so, but you never count your chickens in road racing, do you?
34:33So Dunlop is away and off onto the next lap.
34:36Sweeney then holding on to second and then we wait to see what's happening
34:39in this battle between Anderson and Cummins.
34:42Two wheels, oh, two wheels and sideways for Michael Dunlop.
34:45He pops out of the bubble.
34:46You can see the program's waving on both sides of the circuit here now.
34:49So Dunlop, Sweeney, Anderson with Conor Cummins drifting the machine.
34:54And that lap five was another new lap record for Michael Dunlop.
34:57A 2.52.4, 3.1 seconds inside of the old Dan Neen record from 2018.
35:04That is some pace, isn't it?
35:06I know bikes have moved on a little bit, but that is amazing.
35:09Michael Dunlop, MBE in control of the Tandrogi 100 feature race.
35:14And this, of course, is a super stock essentially.
35:16It's a super stock he rode at the TT.
35:17He did have a separate super bike.
35:19This is the super stock machine that he's on.
35:23Sean Anderson coming through then bouncing towards us again on the number 31 bike
35:27into Marlecoo with Conor Cummins still keeping them honest.
35:30Just behind them there is Conor.
35:32The red rain light you can just see in the background.
35:34And we're on board on the WH Racing powered by Dino Bike Machine,
35:37the Honda of Marcus Simpson.
35:39As he drops into Marlecoo earlier on in the day,
35:41there's a little damp patch on the inside there.
35:43That's thankfully now gone.
35:45And it's Marcus Simpson putting on a good show as always.
35:48As Dunlop comes to take the checkered flag and victory
35:51in the around a pound Tandrogi 100.
35:55But this is not finished yet.
35:56We'll go to the second and third place in the second.
35:59Conor Cummins going the long way round, is he?
36:01Oh, literally the long way round.
36:02Straight on.
36:03It will be Sean Anderson.
36:05Hey, that's a good third place for Sean.
36:07So Conor across the line.
36:08I'm sure he'll be disappointed with that.
36:10But a good showing ahead of the Southern 100.
36:14Michael Dunlop then your winner with a new outright lap record
36:17eight seconds ahead of Michael Sweeney in the battle of the BMW.
36:20Sean Anderson on the Suzuki in third.
36:27Michael, congratulations.
36:29A feature race win and a lap record.
36:32Yeah.
36:33Yeah.
36:34Obviously Michael set a good pace early on in the first short bike race.
36:36And I knew he'd be there.
36:38So I knew he wanted to be tagged along to the next one.
36:41And I seen he was still there and I said, all right, I'm going to do a lap here.
36:44And then just put a wee bit of a gap into it.
36:47So I was going to go for another lap in the last lap for the crack.
36:50But I just didn't bother.
36:51We've had an issue again.
36:53So we had to nurse her.
36:56How satisfying that your remarkable year continues in winning fashion here.
37:00Oh, it's great.
37:01You know, it's great coming to these wee roadways.
37:02Like Michael there, he's on the case the whole time with it.
37:04You know, he's riding hard and, you know, coming here and beating these boys,
37:08you know, these boys, it's a tough pace there, obviously, to go into a 52 there.
37:12It's pretty quick, I think you know what I mean.
37:13So...
37:14Congratulations.
37:17Michael, you have been involved in some sensational racing today.
37:20How was that?
37:21Unbelievable.
37:22Look at Stephen, I never got two wheel slides before in my life.
37:25And then following him doing that speed that's on my dash, yeah, we got a lot of them.
37:29And first time I've experienced something like that with two real big two wheel slides.
37:35And I suppose that's what you're going to have to do to try and keep it Michael.
37:38But look, I've done my best and it's all I could do.
37:40He's the best road wrestler in the world at the moment.
37:43How nice that you were there along with him racing side by side.
37:46It's always nice to be on the podium standing beside Michael, you know what I mean.
37:48And, you know, all the Dunlaps, we were stood on the podium at William as well.
37:51And it's special to stand with them boys, you know.
37:53And to be second and close to him as I was in the first race, I'm really happy with that.
37:59So Michael Dunlap's successful year continues with a double at the Tandregi 100 in front of thousands of his race fans.
38:11You can watch this programme again on demand on the BBC iPlayer.
38:15And we'll be back with more bikes at the Armoy Road Races in July.
38:19Until then, from all of us here, it's bye bye.
38:29Thanks.
38:30Bye bye.
38:32Bye bye.
38:38Bye bye.
38:45Bye bye.
38:46Bye bye.
38:54I'll see you next time.
Recommended
39:00
|
Up next
59:01
39:00
39:00
1:51:54
39:00
1:41:07
58:59
45:12
39:00
39:00
59:00
59:59
45:25
45:36
0:46
45:35
59:01