Michael Dunlop notched up TT win number 18 in typical record-breaking style on Wednesday afternoon.

The 29-year-old moved third in his own right in the all-time winners list with a 14.601-second victory over surprise package Derek McGee in the four-lap Bennetts Lightweight race.

On his way to picking up his third win of the week, Dunlop broke the existing lap record twice and added the race record for good measure on the SC-Project Reparto Corse Paton that he only rode for the first time in practice.

The lap record was actually broken three times in a whirlwind race, Ivan Lintin breaking James Hillier’s old record from a standing start on his 650 Kawasaki.

Lintin, however, retired at Bedstead on lap two when six seconds ahead. Dunlop inherited the lead as he lapped at 122.257 (18.31.003) on the way into the pits, five seconds quicker than Lintin’s opening circuit.

A slow stop though from Dunlop allowed McGee to temporarily head the corrected timing charts at the end of lap three as he impressed on one of Ryan Farquhar’s stable of KMR Kawasakis.

Dunlop hit back and soon began to eke out an advantage over the final two laps, his final trip round the Mountain Course of 122.750 (18:26.543) breaking the lap record once more.

Peter Hickman, who looked set to claim his second podium of the day, retired at Union Mills on the last lap giving TT Zero winner Michael Rutter the opportunity to slot into third.

Italian Stefano Bonetti finished fourth on a similar Paton to Rutter and Dunlop with Joey Thompson an impressive fifth ahead of team boss Ian Lougher.

In the winner’s enclosure after picking up his first win in the class Dunlop said: ’People said I couldn’t ride a twin so that will shut them up.’

’We had a small issue at the start of the race, but I always knew this wasn’t going to be a sprint and more about getting the bike home.’

First time podium finisher McGee added: ’I wasn’t expecting this after missing last year. Fair play to Ryan for putting a good bike under me.’

Full report in TT News issue three, on sale Thursday.