2022 Manx GP: Classic Senior win for Johnston

Lee Johnston claimed an eight-second victory over Italian Stefano Bonetti in the three-lap Classic Senior Manx Grand Prix, the Davies Motorsport Yamaha rider also setting the fastest lap of the race at 111.029mph

Bonetti (Peter Beugger Racing Paton) grabbed the early advantage through Glen Helen on the opening lap, the Italian leading Johnston and Dominic Herbertson by 2.8s on the two Davies Motorsport Yamaha’s. Mike Browne (Peter Grantham Lodge Norton) slotted into fourth ahead of Rob Hodson (Ruthless Racing Hodson) and James Hillier (CSC Racing Yamaha). By Ramsey, Bonetti’s lead had increased to 3.7s and an opening lap of 109.211mph saw him maintain his lead but Johnston had charged over the Mountain and was now only 1.16s behind the Italian. Herbertson had dropped to third, 2.7s adrift of Johnston but ten seconds clear of Hillier with Browne and Jamie Coward in fifth and sixth. The gap between the leaders at Glen Helen second time around was just 0.9s with Herbertson dropping 6.5s behind Johnston and the latter was certainly charging as he cut Bonetti’s advantage to 0.3s at Ballaugh. Hillier was also charging and was now only 3.7s off a podium position. Indeed, the gaps were tightening up with less than 12 seconds covering the first four riders at Ramsey but it was now Johnston in the lead, the Northern Irishman turning his deficit into a one second advantage as he started his run over the Mountain for the second time. With a speed of 110.342mph Johnston’s lead extended to 7.2s as he started his third and final lap but whilst second to fourth behind him remained the same, Hillier was losing time and was now falling into the clutches of Browne. Indeed, the gap was just 1.87s at the Grandstand with the Irish rider