Ecstatic Jeffries edges Dunlop into second spot

David Jeffries put paid to Honda's 27-year reign when he powered his Yamaha R1 to his first victory of the Isle of Man circuit in Saturday's Formula 1 race. The 26-year-old Yorkshireman took the lead from Joey Dunlop at the end of lap two by making a very short pit stop.

Jeffries was ecstatic after the win. "I just saw the pit boards changing from position three to position two, and then position one," he said. "Then when I saw I had a 10-second lead, I just couldn't believe it."

Ulsterman Joey Dunlop (47) was in blistering form, silencing critics who claimed his days on the big bikes were over. By the end of lap two, he had a seven-second lead over Jeffries but a rear wheel change in the pits cost him the valuable time he had built up over the 37-mile circuit.

Following the race, a remarkably calm and relaxed Dunlop said: "I just went too hard at the start and tore the tyre up, so I had to change it, and that cost me."

Dunlop rode his fastest ever lap in 24 years at the TT by averaging 123.06 mph on the last lap.

Although the win was David Jeffries's first, the Jeffries family are no strangers to TT victory. David's father, Tony, had won three trophies, and his uncle Mick had won one. Iain Duffus, also on a Yamaha, just managed to clinch third place from James Courtney.

The race had been reduced from six laps to four after it was red-flagged following an accident at Bray Hill. One of the race favourites, Jim Moodie, from Scotland, didn't make it to the restart due to mechanical trouble with his Honda RC 45.

Philip McCallen, who missed last year's event due to spinal injury, retired at the end of lap two with rear suspension problems on his R1 Yahama.

Today's race is the four-lap lightweight 250 TT. Joey Dunlop will be vying for his 24th win on a Honda. Weather conditions are expected to be perfect.

Formula 1 TT: 1, D Jeffries (Yamaha) 1 hour 14 mins 37.0 secs 121.35 mph; 2, J Dunlop (Honda) 1-14-52.8 120.92 mph; 3, I Duffus (Yamaha) 1-15-002.4 120.67 mph; 4, J Courtney (Ducati) 1-15-08.5 120.50; 5, I Lougher (Honda) 1-16-01.8 119.10 .