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Southern 100: Dunlop Does The Double On Final Day

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Michael Dunlop took his victory tally to three by winning both individual races on the final day of the 2011 Southern 100 meeting on the Isle of Man, including the prestigious Manx Gas Solo Championship.

The Northern Irishman had started the day by winning the S&S Motors 600cc Race, leading home a 1-2 for the Dunlop family, with Brother William edging a three way battle for second. The tussle also involved Guy Martin and Cameron Donald with the Lincolnshire man grabbing third by 0.180s. Ryan Farquhar also held hopes of a rostrum finish but was forced to retire his KMR Kawasaki on lap four.

Meanwhile, local rider Dave Kennington finished first in the 600 ‘B’ Race with Mark Goodings and William Cowden second and third.

There were two 125/400cc races after the previous evening's programme was suspended, and Chris Palmer claimed the 125cc victory in both, but in differing circumstances. The first race was won at a canter with Ian Lougher 12 seconds in arrears. Alistair Howarth finished between them to take the win in the 400cc class.

The second race was much more closely contested with Palmer forced to battle William Dunlop and Ian Lougher in a race that went down to the wire. In the end, Palmer took the win with Dunlop and Lougher both crossing the line within 0.420s of the Mannin Honda rider. The 400cc honours once again went the way of Alastair Howarth ahead of Honda rider Brian Purdy.

With two runners-up finishes, William Dunlop picked up a well deserved victory in the Harlequin Oil Tanks 250/650cc Race, leading home the 250cc runners. Ryan Farquhar would claim the outright success after a dominant performance on the 650cc KMR Kawasaki.

Elsewhere there were victories in the Petrochem Carless Fuels Sidecar Championship for Klaus Klaffenbock & Dan Sayle who sealed their second win of the week while the final race of the event, the Senior Support Consolation Race, went the way of Suzuki's Kevin Strowger.

But the final word must go to Michael Dunlop, who broke the outright lap record to clinch the Solo Championship after another battle with his week-long nemesis Guy Martin. The Relentless Suzuki rider was forced to settle for second after withstanding the challenge of Ryan Farquhar.

After another sparkling week of road racing, the 2011 Southern 100 came to a close with the Prize Presentation in Castletown Square, allowing Dunlop to toast a special week of racing.

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