Gary Johnson says his magnificent victory for British manufacturer Triumph in the opening Superspo🐎rt race at the Isle of Man TT🐻 topped his maiden Mountain success in 2011.

Johnson and Bruce Anstey fought out a dramatic battle throughout the four-lap r🐟ace and at the finish they were se🌜parated only by four seconds.

"It's a credit to the team," said the Smiths Triumph rider. "This is probably better than the first one and it's great for the Smiths boys. We've had to work so hard on the bike and we've 🔯worked a lot with Metzeler, who've given us a really good tyre.

"We had a race-winning combina🐭tion and it's great for Smiths because they are a small, family-run team who have won British championships and now they've won🃏 a TT," he added.

"We swapped engines after practice and the new engine is a little bit st🌟rong🗹er, so it makes my job a little bit easier. I had one of the best lads in front of me to chase after and I knew if I could get anywhere near Michael [Dunlop] then I wouldn't be far off."

Rain began to fall on the M𒉰ountain section during♕ the third and fourth laps and Johnson admitted he felt the race would be stopped.

"I had a dark visor on and when we were on the Mountain I had trouble with my vision seeing where it was wet. I wanted the race stopped, but I would've done wouldn't I, sꦦaying I was leading," he said.

"I ran out of tear-offs and I didn't gel with the wet conditions up there. I started to hold Michael up a bit so I apologise to him buꦚt it's another Supersport win and the next one is the Superstock class.

"I seem to be riding okay 🃏in that and fingers crossed we'll have a good one and I can have a good successful race," added the 30-year-old.

"We're here and satಞ on the number one spot and I couldn't be any happier."