DUNLOP  WINS   LIGHTWEIGHT  TT

Honda's Joey Dunlop won Monday's weather-delayed Lightweight 250cc TT on the Isle of Man after a start to finish victory in the three-lap, 113-mile race.

The incredible Dunlop, 48 years old and father of five, recorded his 25th TT win - one for every year since he first race at the Isle of Man in 1976 - with a dominant display on the RS250 Honda.

At the end of the first lap Dunlop - a publican from Ballymoney, Co Antrim, held a seven-second lead from fellow Honda rider John McGuinness as the pair both pitted for fuel. A lap later Dunlop's advantage had increased to 35 seconds.

McGuinness crashed out without injury just two miles into his final lap, at Quarterbridge - leaving Dunlop more than a minute ahead. He eventually crossed the finish line one minute and seven seconds in front of New Zealander Bruce Anstey.

"The machine was brilliant, the best I've had a 250cc machine run around the TT course," said Dunlop after his eighth 250cc win on the TT Mountain course. "I had a lot of trouble setting up the machine in practice but it ran like a dream today."

"There were a few damp patches around the course but it wasn't a problem - all in all, a dream ride for me," added Dunlop after giving Honda its 110th TT win.

Third place went to former race winner Ian Lougher, holding off a last lap challenge from New Zealander Shaun Harris.

Lightweight TT result (113.19 miles / 182.27km):
1 Joey Dunlop (Honda) 58m 32.2s - 116.10mph,
2 Bruce Anstey (Yamaha) 59m 39.4s - 113.40s,
3 Ian Lougher (Honda) 59m 48.5s - 113.50mph,
4 Shaun Harris (Honda) 1hr 00m 00.8s - 113.60mph,
5 Jason Griffiths (Yamaha) 1hr 00m 12.0s - 112.10mph,
6 Richard Quayle (Honda) 1hr 00m 15.1s - 112.10mph,
7 Denis McCullough (Honda) 1hr 00m 25.7s - 112.80mph,
8 Neil Richardson (Yamaha) 1hr 02m 18.5s - 108.90mph,
9 Gary Dynes (Honda) 1hr 02m 47.5s - 108.50mph,
10 Alan Jackson (Honda) 1hr 03m 18.0s - 107.80mph.