Cameron Donald wins record breaking Dainese Superbike TT
Australian Cameron Donald won the Dainese Superbike TT, setting a new race record. Long time leader and new lap record holder Guy Martin was forced out by mechanical problems.
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 Dainese Superbike Race Beautiful blue skies and wall to wall sunshine were the order of the day for the opening race of TT2008; the Dainese Superbike Race. The racing lived up to the weather; the pace being red hot. Appropriately it was Australian Cameron Donald who took the winner’s laurels in a new race record, with his team mate Bruce Anstey and supported rider Adrian Archibald providing the perfect result for the TAS team and Suzuki. Before the race began came the news that top local rider Paul Hunt had decided to retire from racing; a near miss at Ballaspur in Friday’s practice session being the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Big H as is known won the Senior Manx Grand Prix in 1988 and has been a top TT competitor ever since. The start of the race did not go smoothly; Guy Martin was kept on the line as his start time passed; he eventually left 9 seconds late and second man away Conor Cummins and race favourite John McGuinness were also delayed before things finally settled into the preordained order. At Ballaugh there was the usual large crowd gathered to enjoy the racing. Expectation was high as the riders reached the first commentary point at Glen Helen, about nine miles down the road. It was not McGuinness who had the lead, but Ian Hutchinson on the AIM Yamaha who was just 0.2s ahead of Cameron Donald, then came Bruce Anstey, Ryan Farquhar, John McGuinness, Guy Martin, the rejuvenated Adrian Archibald and Keith Amor. First man over the famous hump backed bridge at Ballaugh was Guy Martin who produced an impressive leap. Next it was Conor Cummins with John McGuinness just a few metres behind, having closed down the 10 seconds starting interval. Then we had a nose wheel landing from Anstey; followed by Cameron Donald; Adrian Archibald and then gasps from the crowd as Ian Hutchinson flew over the bridge with flames spouting from the exhaust pipes, a rocket man indeed. Ryan Farquhar was ahead of Steve Plater who started before him; Plater’s Yamaha’s handling problems apparently still dogging him. Best leap amongst the leading runners came from Gary Johnson. As the race began to settle into a pattern after the frenetic opening miles it was Guy Martin who led on the road and corrected time at Ramsey by 0.4s from McGuinness who was 0.2s ahead of Donald. Farquhar, Hutchinson, Anstey, Archibald, Cummins, Amor and Ian Lougher completed the top ten as the riders began the ascent of the mountain for the first time At the Grandstand it was Guy Martin who led; his opening lap at 129.103mph had set a new class record from a standing start. McGuinness also broke the old record with a lap at 128.617mph. Donald also lapped at over 128mph to be just 2.77s adrift of McGuinness, with Anstey 3.8s further behind. Such was the pace that the top 12 all lapped at over 125mph. 5th to 10th were Hutchinson, Farquhar, Johnson, Cummins, Archibald, and Amor. Lap 2 and drama as first McGuinness was reported as being overdue at Glen Helen; then that he had pulled in to retire from the race. The bike had an intermittent misfire and eventually cutting out. John did re-start at the end of the field but retired again at Sulby crossroads. Martin continued to lead on the road from Cummins, next was Anstey, then Donald, who our watch indicated was 4s ahead of his team mate but 9s down on the flying Martin. At Ramsey the lead was the same at 9s, with Anstey 4s behind Donald. Farquhar was 18s further behind in 4th, Hutchinson was 5th and now circulating on the road with Archibald who was their starting interval of 10s behind Hutchy on corrected time. A very slick pit stop saw Martin’s advantage increased from 9s as he entered pit lane to 14s as he left. Martin had again set a new class lap record at 129.54mph despite having to slow in preparation for his pit stop. Donald in turn gained time on Anstey and they left the pits together having entered then 5s apart. These two also lapped at over 129mph, both setting new personal bests. Ian Hutchinson’s race was run when mechanical problems forced him to retire near Union Mills. Martin was now in control of the race and riding to his pit boards; the Antipodean duo circulating together, now second and third on the road as well as on corrected time. At the end of lap 3 Martin led by 11.37s from Donald; the top ten completed by Anstey, Archibald, Cummins, Johnson, Farquhar who was suffering steering damper problems, Ian Lougher, Dan Stewart and Keith Amor. On lap 4 Martin was neat and fast as he flew over the bridge and charged off through the village towards Ballacrye and Quarry Bends. Then more drama; the Hydrex Honda had suffered a crankshaft failure and Guy’s race was over at Sulby; victory torn from his grasp just when it seemed assured, just as it had been at the NW200. This left the Relentless Suzuki by TAS team mates in control of the race with a healthy lead over their pursuers. Just when it seemed that a first podium finish was a possibility Conor Cummins was forced to park his Yamaha at Keppel Gate; bitter disappointment for the young Manxman. His demise left Johnson in 4th, Farquhar in 5th and Lougher in 6th. Lap 5 saw no change in the first six; but Keith Amor had gained two places to 7th. The two TAS continued serenely on their way on the final circuit. Anstey tried briefly to break away from Donald; however a tyre past its best obliged him to accept a safe second and bemoan not starting more quickly. Donald duly crossed the line to take a superb victory in only his third year at the TT. Archibald took the final place on the podium and recorded his best ever lap in the process, his final circuit being at 127.614mph. Gary Johnson took a superb 4th placing in only his second year at the event; he also posted his beat ever lap at 127.272mph. It was heartening to see Michael Dunlop ride well to bring the Phase One Yamaha home in 14th place; Michael recorded his first 120mph lap on the opening pal and raised his best to 123.594mph on the last lap. The only incidents involved newcomer Stephen McKnight at the Bungalow and Thomas Schoenfelder; thankfully neither seriously injured. 1. Cameron Donald 126.826mph record 2. Bruce Anstey 126.614mph 3. Adrian Archibald 125.034mph 4. Gary Johnson 124.372mph 5. Ian Lougher 124.018mph 6. Ryan Farquhar 123.936mph 7. Keith Amor 122.938mph 8. Daniel Stewart 122.815mph 9. Carl Rennie 122.423mph 10.Steve Plater 122.233mph
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