IOMTT: Pokerstars Senior TT Results

The final race of the 2017 Isle of Man TT, the Pokerstars Senior TT is the competition that every rider wants to win. The “Blue Ribbon” event of race week, the six-lap Senior TT is the crown jewel to the TT fortnight.

Once again, a TT race was framed around two riders: Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop. Hutchinson came into the Senior TT with two race wins on his tally, one from the Superbike TT and one from the Superstock TT.

Riding on the BMW S1000RR, Hutchinson has a race-proven machine under him, and he has been riding in the form of his life. Contrast that with Michael Dunlop, who has been doing the donkey work in developing the new Suzuki GSX-R1000R as a formidable TT racing machine.

Dunlop comes into the Senior TT with only one win – earned during the Supersport TT Race 1 – with the jump to the GSX-R1000R still not panning out like he would have hoped.

With this in mind, we head into the Senior TT – a race, once again, defined by two riders.

From the waiving of the starter’s flag, it was a close battle for the first place spot, with Peter Hickman leading through Glen Helen, and Ian Hutchinson following close behind. The duo traded positions throughout the first timing stations, over the first and second laps, until a red flag stopped the race.

News came quick that it was Ian Hutchinson, who had an incident near the 27th mile-marker. Breaking his femur in the crash, Hutchinson’s off had stopped the race as marshals had to clean-up the course, and facilitate his transport to Noble’s Hospital via helicopter.

The crash is a huge blow to Hutchinson, who had to overcome two previous massive leg injuries to get back to racing a motorcycle. It’s not clear yet how this crash will effect his career going forward, but we hope for his speedy recovery.

With two laps done, the Senior TT restarted for a four-lap race to the finish. This gave the grid a chance to reform, and for riders to adjust their strategies.

For Michael Dunlop, this proved to be a boon of a moment, as the Suzuki rider captured the moment to lead from the restart – a welcomed changed to the fifth place he was circulating in, during the first starting of the Senior TT.

Dunlop lead, and never looked back, dropping two 132 mph laps right away, one of only a few riders to break in the 132 mph range during the Senior TT. No one would come close to Dunlop on the time sheets, as he managed his lead after the lone pitstop of the race.

That proved to be frustrating for Peter Hickman, who trailed Dunlop in second place throughout the bulk of the race, unable to gain time on the Suzuki with his BMW HP4 Race.

The win was Dunlop’s 15th overall TT race win, while Hickman’s podium was his fifth during the fortnight, from five starts. Coming in third was Dean Harrison, who took over the final podium spot after Bruce Anstey had to retire at Bedstead.

The race caps a tough week for Michael Dunlop, who didn’t have the outing that many expected from him this TT fortnight. Still, winning the Senior TT is surely going to be a welcomed prize to come home with, and it shows that next year the Suzuki might be the bike to be on.

For Peter Hickman, the result means he wins the Joey Dunlop Championship, with 76 points.