Davey Todd has etched his name further into Isle of Man TT history with a thrilling victory in the 2025 Superbike race, held on Monday, June 2. The 29-year-old Yorkshireman, riding for his own 8TEN Racing team, held off a fierce late challenge from Michael Dunlop to claim a narrow win by just under 1.3 seconds after four intense laps around the legendary 37.73-mile Mountain Course.
The race, originally scheduled for Sunday but delayed due to oil spills on the Mountain section and Bray Hill, was shortened from six laps to four. Despite the disruption and tricky conditions, Todd showcased tactical brilliance and raw pace, leading from start to finish and setting the fastest lap of the race at 135.327mph on his final circuit.
Starting strong, Todd quickly built a commanding lead of 7.9 seconds after lap one and maintained a 7.1-second advantage after the second lap. However, a slower pit stop midway through the race cost him around six seconds, allowing Dunlop to close the gap dramatically. By the time the riders passed through Glen Helen on the final lap, Todd's lead had shrunk to a mere 0.269 seconds, setting up a nail-biting finish.
Despite the pressure, Todd dug deep and responded with a blistering final lap, holding off Dunlop who posted the fastest lap of the race at 135.416mph. In a dramatic twist, Todd's BMW M1000RR cut out just as he crossed the finish line, forcing him to coast over the line with the engine switched off. "I literally coasted over the line with the bike switched off," Todd revealed in a post-race interview with TT+. "For some reason my bike cut out just as I came over the line. So, I’m glad it cut out there and not any sooner." This victory marks Todd's third career TT win, completing a remarkable 'triple crown' of big bike wins after his Superstock and Senior race triumphs in 2024.
Todd's success is especially poignant given his dual role as both rider and co-owner of 8TEN Racing, a team formed just months ago after FHO Racing withdrew from 2025 activities. "It’s pretty special," Todd said. "I don’t think there’s many guys who can say they’ve done that. I can’t take the credit, though, for being team owner. It’s the rest of the team who had done the hard miles, and Pete [Peter Hickman] included. Pete’s worked his butt off to make this happen and I’m gutted for him and I can’t wait till he’s healed up and back battling with me." Hickman, Todd's teammate and co-owner, was ruled out of this year's TT after a qualifying crash at Kerrowmoar on Friday, May 30.
Michael Dunlop, riding a ROKiT BMW, was relentless in his pursuit but ultimately hampered by tyre troubles and traffic. After a strong pit stop and closing the gap from a slow start, Dunlop was only 0.269 seconds behind Todd at Glen Helen on the final lap. However, he lost precious time when he caught Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison on the road and struggled with rear tyre degradation, which caused his bike to spin and lose grip. "It just fell apart like a cheap watch," Dunlop lamented. "We blew a hole in the tyre, the tyre’s destroyed, so we lost all grip, which is highly disappointing because I knew on the last lap we could have a bit of a second breath and have another go." Despite these setbacks, Dunlop posted the fastest lap of the race at 135.416mph but had to settle for second place, missing out on what would have been a record-breaking 30th TT win.
Dean Harrison continued his impressive form, securing third place on his Honda Racing Fireblade, finishing 43.5 seconds behind Dunlop. Harrison admitted to some bike issues during the race, saying, "I struggled with stability and it pulling wheelies - it’s definitely something we need to improve going forward. I feel like I'm riding well, I just need to up things to the next level." Manx rider Nathan Harrison claimed his best-ever TT result by finishing fourth, clocking a personal best lap speed of 131.046mph. He credited the race's delayed start for helping calm his nerves, saying, "The delay really helped settle me down. I can’t complain with fourth place against the best road racers in the world - I’m made up!" Nathan finished comfortably ahead of Australian David Johnson, who took fifth on a Kawasaki.
James Hillier, who only secured his ride a few weeks ago, impressed by finishing sixth on his Muc-Off Racing Honda. Veteran John McGuinness, making his 112th TT start, came home seventh, followed by Josh Brookes in eighth and Michael Evans in ninth. Paul Jordan rounded out the top ten.
The race was not without its casualties. Conor Cummins retired early at the end of lap one, while James Hind, Dominic Herbertson, Ian Hutchinson, and Michael Browne all faced mechanical issues that dashed their hopes of top finishes. Newcomer Mitch Rees had a slip at Ramsey Hairpin but was reported to be unharmed. Shaun Anderson crashed at Joey’s on the Mountain but escaped serious injury, thankfully.
Todd's victory in the Superbike TT sets an electrifying tone for the 2025 Isle of Man TT race week, highlighting the fierce competition and unpredictable challenges of this iconic road racing event. With the Sidecar Race 1 scheduled to follow at 2pm and the Supersport TT race later in the day, the action on the island is far from over.
Reflecting on the win, Todd expressed his gratitude and pride: "I’m over the moon. It feels so sweet to have done it with our own team - the boys have all done fantastic and I must thank everyone who has helped create this team. I have to admit I was more nervous than I’ve ever been before heading into the race because of the conditions and the oil spills, but I knew the bike had good pace."
As the 2025 Isle of Man TT unfolds, the battle for supremacy continues with riders pushing the limits of speed and endurance on one of the world’s most demanding courses.
