Stop what you're doing and watch this TT bike run

There are 24 hours in the day. All we’re asking for is seventeen minutes of yours. Well, 16 minutes 58.25 seconds to be precise.

That’s how long it took Michael Dunlop to set a new absolute lap record and first sub 17-minute time of the legendary Isle of Man TT course on his Hawk Racing BMW Superbike.

If you can't quantify how much of an epic feat that is, it’s time to shock you with some numbers. Achieving that incredible time required an average speed of 133.393mph… over a near 38-mile winding, largely unsighted and scary public road course. Y’know, with lampposts, zero run off and over exuberant fans with GoPros on selfie sticks littering the place. 

It happened on lap two of this year’s opening Superbike race. Watch the onboard footage via the video above. Hitting speeds in excess of 195mph on public roads – just think about that for a moment – the 27-year old’s win was his 12th success at the TT and his third in the Superbike race. All in all, he beat the previous race record by a staggering 1m15.643s. Mr Dunlop, our hat is doffed. 

Tragically, due to the dangerous nature and risk involved, there have also been two fatalities at this year's event. Sidecar driver Dwight Beare, 27, crashed near the Rhencullen section of the Mountain Course while Paul Shoesmith, 50, from Cheshire, died in a crash on Sulby Straight during solo practice on the first day of racing.

Our thoughts are with their families.