Image: Supplied.

Honda Racing’s David Johnson earned his first Isle of Man TT podium in sensational fashion in the Superstock category, getting the better of Michael Dunlop (MD Racing BMW) by just 0.2 seconds.

The Australian was eighth on the first of the three-lap encounter, but wasted no time in starting his ascent through the field. Moving into fourth by lap two, he pushed on for the top three in a incredible display of riding, overcoming Dunlop in the final sector.

“That was an unreal Superstock race,” Johnson stated. “I didn’t get up to speed straight away on the first lap but then I got up to fourth at the start of lap two. I saw the gap and it was +0 the whole time I was in fourth. I didn’t know it was Michael I was dicing with but I could see the times to and fro and I just thought ‘I gotta get this’.

“I just tried not to put a foot wrong on that last lap. Over the Mountain on the last lap was the best I’ve ever ridden over there on the Superstock bike, and that last sector was something else – I just put everything into it.

“I was P4 at the Bungalow and still at Cronk Ny Mona, so I just pushed like mad over the last bit. The team did a fantastic job and the dynamic between us is always very good, so I’m just so happy to get this podium.”

The Superstock race was taken out by Smiths Racing BMW rider Peter Hickman, comfortably beating home Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki) to make it five career TT race wins.