Bradford’s Dean Harrison gave the RC Express Racing by MSS Performance team their debut podium at the Isle of Man TT Races with a stunning second place in Tuesday’s 4-lap Superstock race.

Held over from Monday due to poor weather on the island, the race eventually got underway at 1.45pm on Tuesday afternoon in perfect weather conditions and a superb opening lap of 128.768mph placed Dean in a brilliant second place, just over six seconds adrift of Saturday’s Superbike race winner Michael Dunlop.

Despite suffering with a technical issue, Dean’s second lap was quicker still at 128.956mph but Dunlop was able to increase his advantage to almost 14 seconds after setting the fastest lap of the race. However, a good pit stop and strong opening sector on the third lap by Dean brought the margin down to nine seconds with one and a three quarter laps remaining.

The Northern Ireland rider wasn’t to be denied though but Dean had a comfortable margin over third placed rider Bruce Anstey and he completed the four laps and over 150 miles of racing in a brilliant second place, his second podium position around the Mountain Course and the team’s first in just their second year of TT competition.

Dean Harrison: “I’m over the moon with second place and just want to say a big thank you to everyone involved with the team. Conditions were great but the quickshifter stopped working on the opening lap and I had to completely change my way of riding, rolling the throttle to change gear when normally you can just change without even thinking. It compromised my race a bit but once I got used to it and settled into a rhythm I was still able to lap at almost 129mph and I can’t ask for much more than second place. I had good pit boards all the way round the course and was surprised by how many people I caught on the roads but I passed them all in clean, safe places and couldn’t have finished second to a better man.”

Ben Constable, Team Co-Owner: “I’m lost for words to be honest and am quite emotional with today’s result! We’ve only been involved for just under two years so to get where we have done in that short space of time is a fantastic achievement by all concerned. Our aim from day one was to get onto the top step of the podium and we continue to get closer to that goal.”

“Last year, we took 11th and eighth in the first two races and this year we’ve taken eighth and second so it’s clear we’re moving forward all the time. Dean had a slight technical issue in the race but he made Michael work hard for the win and his pace was high throughout the race. We’ve proved our capabilities again, as well as our reliability, and have finished as the top Kawasaki rider so we’re absolutely over the moon. We’ve still got two more races to go though so won’t rest on our laurels and will aim for more of the same on Friday.”

Dean will be out on the Mar-Train Yamaha in Wednesday’s second Supersport race but will on board the RC Express Racing machines in Friday’s Lightweight and Senior races.

Picture by Pacemaker Press International