Thrilling Supertwin Race 2 sees Hickman snatch dramatic win

Bian earns first podium in second with Brookes third as Dunlop and Browne retire

Peter Hickman made it two wins during the same day as he snatched victory in an encapsulating Supertwin TT Race 2 this afternoon (9 June).

It was also a memorable day for Frenchman Pierre-Yves Bian who secured his first ever TT podium finishing 47.8 seconds back in second whilst Josh Brookes, making his return to the TT after a five-year absence, bagged the final podium place in third just two seconds further behind.

It all followed drama as previous Supertwin race winner, Michael Dunlop, and race leader for two laps, Mike Browne, were forced to retire with mechanical problems within the first two laps and fellow podium contender Dominic Herbertson also having to bow out on lap three.

Winner of the opening Supertwin race, Michael Dunlop, quickly swept to the top of the leaderboards in the opening sectors, meanwhile Mike Browne and Jamie Coward, who both secured the other podium places in the first race, were being joined by Peter Hickman in a close early battle within the top four.

There was frustration for Coward who then retired on the run to Ballaugh, allowing Browne to slot into second and Hickman behind in third during lap one.

Drama then began to unfold though as Michael Dunlop began to slow on the mountain section with mechanical issues before retiring on the approach to the Bungalow, scuppering his chance in the race to match his uncle, Joey Dunlop's record of all-time TT wins in this particular contest.

As a result, by the time the mandatory pit stop came around at the end of the lap, Browne found himself moving into first ahead of Hickman who was 11.5 seconds behind with Josh Brookes therefore promoted into third under pressure from Pierre-Yves Bian.

The second lap saw Browne, who'd enjoyed a slick pit stop, extend his advantage over Hickman at the top to 12.2 seconds at Glen Helen, meanwhile Brookes had slowed allowing Bian to take advantage and move up to third, who himself was now under pressure from first man on the road, Dominic Herbertson.

And Herbertson's pace in the north of the Island began to tell as he leapfrogged Bian into third in the standings entering Ramsey but just over one second separated the duo on the run across the mountain.

And the drama wasn't over going into lap three as leader Browne, who'd developed a commanding advantage, was forced to throw in the towel with his own mechanical problems at the Grandstand, ending his hopes for a first TT win and sending Hickman into a commanding top spot ahead of Herbertson in second and Bian into the last top-three spot.

The twists in the tale continued on the final lap as Herbertson suffered late heartache retiring in the Glen Helen area which brought Brookes back into the podium mix in third with Bian a distant second from the race leader.

Hickman now, consolidating his lead in the final stages, was aiming to simply get his Yamaha R7 home with a significant advantage and did so down the remaining run down Glencrutchery Road to claim a second victory of the day and 12th TT win overall.

The next and final race of TT 2023 is the six-lap Senior TT which is due to take place tomorrow at 12.15pm, following a sidecar 100-year anniversary parade lap at 11.20am.