Team Suzuki Press Office – June 4. Tyco Suzuki recorded its second podium of TT 2014 following a fine third place from William Dunlop in today’s Supersport Race 2 on the Isle of Man, as team-mate Guy Martin took 10th in the four-lap encounter.
Dunlop had held second place at the first checkpoint for the Northern Ireland-based team on the opening lap at Glen Helen, but was overhauled by Bruce Anstey on the run into Ramsey. From there-on, the Ballymoney rider settled into a steady rhythm; recording a respectable opening lap of 125.425mph.
Dunlop increased his pace on the second lap with a 126.161mph lap-time, increasing his advantage over eventual fourth-placed finisher Dean Harrison. And from there, the North West 200 Superbike race one winner steadied himself on the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600 for an Isle of Man TT third place.
William Dunlop:
“That was a lot better effort than Monday; we are getting there. Despite riding the GSX-R600 at the North West 200, it is new to me at the TT, but I can’t fault it at all. The ‘wee engine’ was flying today and the boys have done a good job. The mist in the closing stages on the Mountain was a bit off-putting: I saw the fans waving at me on the third lap and thought, ‘I must be leading this!’ but realised Guy was behind me. We have just been building up all week and I think there’s a 131mph lap in both me and the team’s Superbike, so I’m looking forward to Friday.”
Guy Martin:
“Now then boy. I love riding my bike but I’d like to be riding it a little bit faster than we did today. There was no lack of effort on my part, but it is what it is. The bike was a bit ‘peeky’ and we couldn’t really pull top gear in the conditions, but yeah… Friday is another day.”
Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“That’s more like it. We always believed our GSX-R600 was capable of running at the front and both Guy and William have shown on numerous occasions that they are also up-to the task. The TT really is a matter of getting everything right on the day and although there was one area today that we could have improved on. It was pleasing to see William achieve our second podium of the week and his first TT podium in Tyco Suzuki colours.”
Supersport Race 2 Results: 1 Michael Dunlop [Honda] 1:12:23.794sec; 2 Bruce Anstey [Honda] 1:12:33.883sec; 3 William Dunlop [Tyco Suzuki] 1:12:47.678sec; 4 Dean Harrison [Yamaha] 1:13:03.459sec; 5 James Hillier [Kawasaki] 1:13:37.712sec; 6 Keith Amor [Honda] 1:13.49.580sec.
SUPERSPORT RACE 1 RECAP – MONDAY:
Following a lengthy delay due to inclement weather on the Isle of Man, Tyco Suzuki riders William Dunlop and Guy Martin finished the opening Supersport race at TT 2014 in fifth and sixth places respectively.
Difficult conditions made both riders tentative on the opening laps, but both men showed their professionalism by gauging track conditions throughout; safely bringing their Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600s home in the top-six.
Guy Martin:
“I rode my backside off today and did my best in the conditions. The Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600 has plenty of speed but we had a few slight handling issues, but no complaints. It wasn’t for a lack-of-trying on my part and the bike is good, but there is no substitute for cubes. It is what it is ‘boy’ but we will be back for more on Wednesday and I’m confident we can be up there.”
William Dunlop:
“It didn’t quite happen for me today. The conditions were tricky in places and we maybe weren’t on the pace quick enough, but we have the speed with the Suzuki – which we proved with our Sulby speed trap times – and if conditions are fully-dry on Wednesday, who knows: It’s the one class where I know I can win, so yeah it was pretty frustrating today.”
Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“Conditions were tough today with damp roads and lots of traffic in the later laps and although we had hoped to challenge for a podium place, it’s always nice to have both bikes finish in the top-six. We have worked really hard with the performance of our GSX-R600 over the past year and I’m confident, both the bike and our riders are capable of mounting a challenge for a podium position – so we look forward to Wednesday’s second race.”
Supersport Race 1 Result: 1 Gary Johnson [Triumph] 1:12:43.035sec; 2 Bruce Anstey [Honda] +1.5sec; 3 Michael Dunlop [Honda] +10sec; 4 Dean Harrison [Yamaha] +31sec; 5 William Dunlop [Tyco Suzuki] +12sec; 6 Guy Martin [Tyco Suzuki] +7sec.
