2022 Manx GP: Dramatic Lightweight win for Browne

Mike Browne took a dramatic Lightweight Manx Grand Prix victory on Saturday afternoon after James Hind retired on the final lap, just two miles from home.

Cut to two laps, Browne (Laylaw Racing Yamaha) made the early running and led Hind (Dennis Trollope Yamaha) by two seconds halfway round the first lap before the latter begun to get into his stride. The 22-year old hit the front for the first time at Ramsey Hairpin, albeit by just 0.7s and with an opening lap of 117.592mph – a new MGP lap record – he led Browne by 1.856s, the Irishman also bettering the old lap record at 117.403mph. Dominic Herbertson (115.690mph) slotted into third on his Chapman Racing Honda with Browne’s team-mate Ian Lougher (113.794mph), in fourth ahead of Daniel Sayle (113.787mph) and Stuart Hall (112.391mph). Michael Dunlop (Crossan Motorcycles Honda) was out though and toured across the line at 106.775mph before pulling into the pits to retire with his motor running too rich. By Glen Helen on the second and final lap, Browne had cut the gap to 1.113s but that was as close as he got as he lost time between each of the next three sectors and Sayle’s strong ride ended with a retirement at the Black Dub. Browne continued to lose ground up the Mountain and Hind looked to have the race sewn up as he led by almost twenty seconds at the Bungalow. However, as Browne took the chequered flag, there was no sign of Hind and he was reported as having stopped between Brandish and Hillberry. Herbertson was also out as he retired at the 33rd Milestone and it all meant Browne took the victory by 43.8s from the evergreen Lougher with a jubilant Hall coming through for third, nine seconds ahead of Rhys Hardisty (Willson and Wilding/Kaymac Yamaha). Class regulars