More lap, race records were in prospect for the big one, the blue riband, the showpiece event of the 2022 Southern 100, the Hunts Motorcycles Solo Championship.

Pole sitter Davey Todd made the brightest start, leading at Cross Four Ways on lap one fellow anticipated front runners Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop.

At lap one’s finalisation, Todd enjoyed a 0.985 lead over reigning Solo Champion Harrison, who in turn was 1.9 clear of 21 times TT winner Dunlop.

Harrison thanks to near lap record of 116.39 mph, reduced Todd’s lead to only 0.374 on lap two. Dunlop remained third, pulling clear of Junior/Senior Manx GP winner Nathan Harrison.

As lap four beckoned, Todd led by just 0.336 over 2019 Senior TT victor Harrison (Dean).

Laps four, five would see Todd, Harrison continue to tussle it out for the coveted Solo Championship crown.

With just three laps to run, Todd held a narrow 0.341 advantage over Harrison, third placed Dunlop was 10.68 seconds down on the prime Championship challengers.

Soon the existing lap-record was broken not once but twice, with Harrison setting the slightly better lap speed, moving to within 0.179 of Todd, after lapping at an astonishing 116.639 mph.

Lap records don’t always win races though and Todd P1 at the end of lap eight, was keeping his cool in pursuit of a first Solo Championship title.

Ending race week in the best possible fashion, both Todd and Harrison setting new race records taking below 20 minutes, blasting the outright lap record on the ninth, final lap, lapping individually at 116.805, 116.941 mph.

The all-important P1 though and £3,500 went to Brotton’s Todd, emerging post the chequered flag, only 0.061 ahead of Harrison, to claim his fifth race win of the 2022 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100.

Buildbase Suzuki’s Dunlop occupied third, Super Twins lap record holder Jamie Coward took fourth with positions fifth, sixth respectively gained by the Manx duo of Nathan Harrison and Ryan Kneen.