MARTIN AND SUZUKI 2ND IN SOUTHERN 100

After dominating all four practice sessions at the Southern 100 on the Isle of Man, Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing's Guy Martin looked odds-on favourite to lift tonight's opening race of the 2011 meeting, the Corlett's Trophies 600/ 1000cc event.

The Lincolnshire man led for seven of the eight laps, but a bold move just two corners from home saw Michael Dunlop edge him out by just a tenth of a second at the chequered flag.

Both riders dipped inside the old lap record during the race and such was their pace, third-placed man Cameron Donald was over 18 seconds behind the leading duo with William Dunlop fourth and Ryan Farquhar fifth.

Guy Martin:

"We knackered the job on the last lap, but we'll be all right. I had a tiny little problem on the last lap and I got caught a bit with backmarkers - no excuses mind - but we know what it is and we'll have it fixed for the next one. We have another three or four goes here this week. We were both well inside the lap record there. We were some distance in front of the rest as you can see by the lap times. The big bike is working well and the little 'un is flying so the job's a good 'un."

Corlett's Trophies 600/1000cc Results [8 laps of the 4.25-mile Billown Circuit]:

1 Michael Dunlop [Kawasaki] 18mins 23.260;
2 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 18mins 23.381;
3 Cameron Donald [Honda] 18mins 41.865;
4 William Dunlop [Honda] 18mins 42.032;
5 Ryan Farquhar [Kawasaki] 19mins 01.918;
6 Dan Kneen [Kawasaki] 19mins 06.135.

Southern 100 Relentless Race Schedule:

Wednesday 13th July:

6.20pm - Total Oils Senior Race [8 Laps]
8.00pm - Radcliffe Butchers' 600cc Race [8 Laps]

Thursday 14th July:

11.10am - S&S Motors' 600cc Race [8 Laps]
3.00pm - Manx Gas Solo Championship Race [9 Laps]
8.30pm - Open Air Presentation in Castletown Market Square