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Gareth Fullerton

Isle of Man TT results: Michael Dunlop claims 20th victory with thrilling Supersport success

Michael Dunlop joked "there's life in the old dog yet" after claiming his 20th Isle of Man TT win on Monday.

Dunlop held off Dean Harrison in a thrilling Monster Energy Supersport race to finish on the top step of the podium.

At one stage on the final lap the top two were separated by just 0.14 seconds.

Read more: Isle of Man TT LIVE updates from Monday's racing on the Mountain course

But Ballymoney hero Dunlop showed his class by easing clear as the lap progressed to eventually win by 5.617 seconds.

Saturday's Superbike winner Peter Hickman was a further 29.437 seconds back in third, with Fermanagh's Lee Johnston finishing fifth.

"That one wasn't easy," Dunlop told the official Isle of Man TT coverage.

"Dean is a tough competitor and I knew he would push hard. It was a good race, but I sort of got caught up with the boys in front of me a little bit.

"I just knew I had to push on the last lap because I knew it would be tight. I knew Dean would be pushing hard.

"It was a good finish - there's a bit of life in the old dog yet."

Dunlop posted a time of 129.47mph on the final flying lap, breaking his own lap record in the process.

The 33-year-old also becomes only the third rider in history to reach 20 TT wins, following in the legendary slipstreams of his Uncle Joey Dunlop and John McGuinness.

"This is the first time we have done two laps back-to-back on the bike, so we were a bit worried on fuel and everything else," Dunlop said of his Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport machine.

"But the bike never missed a beat. It was fantastic. The bike has been fantastic, the engine has been 130 per cent and the electronics were working well today.

"The whole package worked well."

Dunlop will be hoping to double up when he takes part in the Superstock race later in the day.

He posted the quickest time in the class during Friday qualifying.

"We have had lack of time with it, but we will see how it goes," he added.

"It is three laps instead of four. Hopefully a three-lapper won't leave it too bad."

Meanwhile, Ben and Tom Birchall powered their way to a commanding win in the 3wheel.media Sidecar race.

They finished an impressive 13.989 seconds ahead of the Crowe brothers - Ryan and Callum - who were ecstatic to clinch runners-up spot right at the end.

The Crowe boys finished just 0.112 seconds ahead of third placed Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley.

Read more: Isle of Man TT 2022: Organisers announce new Monday schedule

Read more: Michael Dunlop laments 'struggles' after podium finish in Superbike race

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