DUNLOP  ADDS  TO   TT  TALLY  WITH  125cc  WIN

Honda's Joey Dunlop put in a faultless display to take the 26th TT victory of his career with a start to finish win in Wednesday's 125cc Ultra-Lightweight race on the Isle of Man.

Dunlop, 48, notched a hat-trick of TT 2000 wins in dominant style, opening up a five-second lead after the first nine miles of the four-lap, 151-mile race. By the end of the first lap Dunlop had an 18-second lead over fellow Ulsterman Denis McCullough.

Dunlop continued to increase his lead, picking up six seconds on McCullough at the end of lap two when the riders pitted for fuel. McCullough battled back but could only reduce Dunlop's advantage by three seconds as the pair began their fourth and final lap.

Victorious Dunlop took the chequered flag 16 seconds ahead of McCullough with Joey's brother Robert third.

Dunlop said: "The machine ran perfect. As soon as I got down Bray Hill on the first lap I knew the machine was going well, that gave me the heart to go for the win. "My only worry was fuel - I wasn't sure we'd put enough in at the stop but it worked out OK. This racing is tiring me out though. On the 125 you have to be really tucked in so it's hard work after an hour and a half around here."

Ultra-Lightweight TT result - four laps (150.92 miles):
1 Joey Dunlop (Honda) 1hr 24m 30.80s - 107.14mph,
2 Denis McCullough (Honda) 1hr 24m 46.90s - 106.80mph,
3 Robert Dunlop (Honda) 1hr 25m 08.00s - 106.36mph,
4 Gary Dynes (Honda) 1hr 25m 18.50s - 106.14mph,
5 Darran Lindsay (Honda) 1hr 25m 26.70s - 105.97mph,
6 Ian Lougher (Honda) 1hr 25m 58.40s - 105.32mph,
7 Matt Jackson (Honda) 1hr 26m 18.10s - 104.92mph,
8 Chris Grose (Honda) 1hr 27m 01.80s - 104.04mph,
9 Garry Bennett (Honda) 1hr 27m 05.10s - 103.98mph,
10 Michael Wilcox (Honda) 1hr 27m 09.40s - 103.89mph.