Guy Martin prevails in Superbike thriller at Dundrod

Pole man Martin set the early pace on the GSX-R1000 chased by team-mate William Dunlop and Kiwi Anstey on the Valvoline Padgetts Honda Fireblade, with RC Express Racing’s Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop on the BMW Motorrad S1000RR in fourth and fifth respectively.

It was outright lap record holder Anstey who came through to take the fight to Martin on lap two, with Michael Dunlop making up ground after a less than perfect start to slot into third ahead of brother William.

Martin’s advantage at the end of lap two was only 0.206 seconds over Anstey as he posted a fastest lap of 132.944mph.

Anstey, though, had edged closer on lap three with Martin’s lead now down to a mere 0.174 seconds and Michael Dunlop, trying desperately to get on terms with the leading pair, a further two seconds in arrears.

Harrison was now pressuring William Dunlop for fourth, with Lee Johnston on the Pirtek Honda holding fifth ahead of newcomer Peter Hickman on the Ice Valley Racing BMW Superstock machine.

On the fourth lap of five, Anstey turned the screw to set another fastest lap at 133.297mph as he moved into the lead for the first time from Martin.

However, Lincolnshire star Martin managed to force his way back to the front on the run towards the Deer’s Leap on the final lap and went on to claim the fastest lap of the race at 133.313mph, holding the evergreen Anstey at bay to win by 0.242 seconds.

Michael Dunlop had to settle for third place as he strives to find the right set-up with his factory-backed BMW, while Harrison crossed the line in fourth ahead of Fermanagh man Johnston.

William Dunlop dropped back to sixth at the line with Hickman, Steve Mercer and Milwaukee Yamaha’s Ian Hutchinson rounding out the top eight.

Dundrod 150 Superbike: 1 G Martin, 2 B Anstey +0.242s, 3 M Dunlop +2.459s, 4 D Harrison +4.786s, 5 L Johnston +4.904s, 6 W Dunlop +5.605s, 7 P Hickman +19.014s, 8 S Mercer +21.483s, 9 I Hutchinson +21.757s, 10 D Kneen +33.252s.