The weather turned against TT 2011 on Wednesday, with the Supersport 2 race halted on lap two.
After a delay at the start of the day, roads closed at 11am and 50 minutes later World Champions Nicky Hayden and Mick Doohan took to the track for a parade lap alongside MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow, BSB star Josh Brookes and TT legend Ian Hutchinson, clean sweep winner from twelve months ago.
As showers continued to come across the island, it wasn’t until 12.40pm that racing got underway, and even then leading riders were unhappy with the conditions, Padgetts Honda man John McGuinness particularly not keen to start though he did lead the race away, flagged off by Hayden.
When conditions are mixed you look to the Dunlop’s, and so it proved at the first checkpoint, Michael leading Gary Johnson by 0.01 of a second, with brother William slotting into third on his Wilson Craig Honda, engine problems having forced him to non-start Monday’s race.
By Ramsey on the opening lap they led the way, Street Sweep Yamaha rider Michael 1.36 seconds up on William, ten seconds clear of everyone else as McGuinness, KMBG Honda rider Keith Amor and Ian Lougher (Blackhorse Kawasaki) dropped 20 seconds, clearly not enjoying the conditions.
Johnson retired his Honda in the pits at the end of lap one with an intermittent electrical fault as Cameron Donald slotted into third place for the Wilson Craig team, ahead of TAS Suzuki rider Guy Martin, Dan Kneen and Monday’s race one victor Bruce Anstey (Padgetts).
Amor came off his Honda in Union Mills at the start of lap two, but was reported to be ok, and Mark Parrett at Laurel Bank with ankle injuries, as the Dunlop’s caught McGuinness, Martin, Donald and Anstey on the road, allowing Michael to open the advantage to five seconds, with local Dan Kneen a further 27 seconds back in a superb third spot aboard his Mark Bloom Racing Yamaha.
However it all came to nought with the leaders on the approach to Sulby as rain across the northern part of the course meant the race was red flagged.
