‘It's an honour': Michael Dunlop thrilled by Isle of Man TT recognition after breaking wins record
The Ballymoney man, who won three races at the North West 200 two weeks ago, passed his uncle Joey at last year's event by winning his 27th race, making him the most successful rider in the event's history.
And race organisers have rewarded him for that achievement by unveiling a directional board at a corner on the 27th mile of the famous Mountain Circuit with the initials 'MD' on it.
The left-handed turn comes shortly after the section named after Joey when he set his record of 26 wins, which continues the Dunlop legacy on at the Isle of Man superbly.
"The course only has so many signs on it, so to get the chance to be one of them, it's an honour,' beamed Michael.
"Last year, breaking the record that stood for 24 years, it's nice to get some recognition from the Isle of Man. That's my name up here forever, it will always be called this, it's a nice wee bit on top of the cake.
"It's the climb to the top of the mountain, so it's a nice place to put it – it suits my racing career!
"We have two Dunlops here, Joey having his second and me now having mine. There's not many families get a chance to have two of them on the race circuit, so it's a big thing for the legacy, really. And it's nice to have the two of them within the same mile marker and for us to be included in the same stretch.'
After his fantastic display at the North West 200, which saw him win two races on the Thursday night before adding another Superbike win on Saturday, albeit in controversial circumstances, Dunlop says he is ready to tackle the Isle of Man.
"My preparations have been good, won three races at the North West and then broke down in a couple, but we won three and I'm feeling really good,' added the 36-year-old.
"I wouldn't be coming here if I didn't think I could win more races and I feel like I'm as fast as I ever was. We just need some practice to dial in but hopefully the team and work hard and we can push on.'
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Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop sets lap record on way to 33rd TT victory: ‘It's a great wee bike'
The Northern Ireland rider's record haul of victories around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course now stands at a staggering 33 wins ahead of today's final Senior race. Dunlop has also won both Supersport races this year and hasn't been off the podium in any race he has started, finishing second in the Superbike race and earning two thirds in the Superstock races. He went into the Entire Cover Insurance Supertwin race as the hot favourite following a wide-margin win over Manx rider Michael Evans in the opener. True to form, Dunlop was rarely threatened, opening a lead of 12 seconds over Davey Todd (Milenco by Padgett's Paton) after the first of three laps. He lost a few seconds during his pit-stop to Todd, but Dunlop quickly restored a commanding advantage of 14.5s by the end of the penultimate lap. He blasted the lap record on his final circuit with a speed of 123.056mph to win by 26.77s from Todd, with Dominic Herbertson 20.5s back in third on the Melbray Racing Paton. Afterwards, Dunlop said he was surprised by his lap record feat and felt he had rolled off the pace slightly to nurse his Paton home safely for another TT success. 'Very nice, was that on the last lap?' Dunlop said. 'I'm a bit surprised because I backed off a little bit because I saw I had a bit of a lead. 'It [gap] dropped away down after the pit-stop and came back up again. I said 'I'll get a push on here', and then on the last lap we just nursed it. 'That's three Patons in here and people say it's because I'm on a Paton [wins races]. 'They are a great wee bike and the bike has been mint, that's a double again. 'I'd like to have a lap on my own without any stress to see what I could really do but thanks to everybody. 'My main thing is it's another win under the belt. I'm happy enough and my job is to win the race.' Giving his thoughts on his chances in today's Senior, Dunlop added: 'I'll have and that's four this week already, so it's a bit of an achievement again, so I'm happy. We'll just keep going and see what we're made of.' Runner-up Todd said he gave it his all but claimed his Paton was no match for Dunlop's machine. 'We're never going to compete with that thing, there's absolutely zero chance, but not taking anything away from Michael because he's riding super hard,' said Todd. 'I rode that as hard as I could and I'm super-stoke to get the Milenco by Padgett's team up on the box again. 'Clive [Padgett] bought this Paton here and tried to make the best of it. 'I really struggled in that first race and I think the boys really got their heads together, and Clive's given me a great bike.' Herbertson was toasting his second TT podium after previously finishing on the rostrum in the Supertwin class last year on a Paton for John Burrows' team. 'I'm absolutely over the moon,' he said. 'The team bought a Paton, we've dug in and I don't know what to say. 'Five-and-a-half weeks to turn this around and I cannot thank everyone enough. 'Being number 13 – unlucky for some but not for us.' Manx rider Michael Evans, second in race one, retired on the opening lap, while Rob Hodson from Wigan – third in the opening Supertwin race – dropped out with a problem while lying third. Paul Jordan from Magherafelt came home in fourth on the Jackson Racing Aprilia, 3.1s behind Herbertson, with Mike Browne (KMR/Jack Reid Cars Kawasaki) and Adam McLean (Flitwick Motorcycles Yamaha) from Tobermore completing the top six.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop: I'm not happy with just 32 wins at the Isle of Man TT
Dunlop will be in action on Friday in the second Superstock and Supertwin races before the prestigious Senior race brings the curtain down on Saturday. The Ulsterman extended his incredible tally of wins around the iconic Mountain Course with a double in the Supersport class on the Milwaukee Ducati and a Supertwin victory on his MD Racing Paton. Dunlop will take some beating in Friday's second Supertwin race (4:15pm) on the Italian machine in his quest for a third consecutive TT four-timer. He was a runaway winner of the first Supertwin race on Tuesday by more than 22 seconds from Manxman Michael Evans and should emerge victorious again barring any unforeseen issues. His task will be tougher in the Opul Superstock race on Friday (10:45am), when Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) is seeking a double. Harrison won the first race for his fourth TT win and his first since he triumphed in the 2019 Senior. The English rider set his fastest ever lap at 135.692mph and brings formidable form to the table, while Davey Todd is a former Superstock winner who is eager to make amends on the 8TEN Racing BMW after finishing second to Harrison. Dunlop – third in the first Superstock encounter after he was hampered by an electronics issue – will be looking to close the gap to Harrison and Todd on his MD Racing BMW. 'I want to still win races and I wanted to come here and get into the thirties, and we're into the thirties,' Dunlop said. 'I've got three more races to have a go at and I will definitely be having a go – it won't be for the lack of trying, so we'll see what happens.' Dunlop is on the brink of a 50th TT podium after breaking John McGuinness's record of 47 rostrums this week. The second Sidecar TT race (1pm) is part of a packed schedule, when Manx brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe will be the favourites after a dominant win and 121mph lap record in Monday's race.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop: I've put Ducati ‘back on top' after securing 32nd Isle of Man TT win
It was the Northern Ireland rider's 32nd victory around the Mountain Course and his third this week, with Dunlop also winning the first Supertwin race on Tuesday evening on his Paton. The 36-year-old has been unbeatable in the Supersport class since 2022, winning eight races in a row. He took something of a gamble this year after making the switch to an Italian Ducati Panigale V2 machine following six consecutive wins on his trusty MD Racing Yamaha. However, the move paid off and Dunlop won both races in style to make it 15 Supersport victories in total at the TT. He took control of the four-lap race from the off and led at every sector on each lap, extending his advantage throughout to win by 26.181s from Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK), with Davey Todd taking third on the Milenco by Padgett's Honda, almost 16 seconds back. 'It wasn't so bad,' said Dunlop, whose Ducati wins were the manufacturer's first at the TT since Rob Holden's Singles victory in 1995. 'It was going to be difficult, I knew Dean was going to come out the blocks, but I sort of got my act together at the start of the race. 'I was right at the front at the start so I gave myself a little bit less work to do. 'We had a bit of a nervy pit stop, she wouldn't fire again. But the bike was mint – thanks to all the team, they worked late last night to get it going and fair play to them. It was great. 'I'd just like to thank the team and the sponsors – it's not possible without them,' added Dunlop, who recorded the fastest lap of the race on the Milwaukee Ducati on the second lap at 129.297mph. 'Obviously for Ducati as well, it's nice to be back on top and doing the double again.' Dunlop said he had a small issue with the front of the machine but it wasn't enough to jeopardise his march to a record-extending 32nd TT win. 'We had a wee bit of a front end issue,' he said. 'But I knew what we were going to try, which was going to sort of work, and it was windy out there so I didn't know if it was a wind thing. 'But we just kept going, and happy to do the double for the Ducati team, for my own team, and for everybody else.' Runner-up Harrison didn't make his customary fast start but felt Dunlop was always going to be difficult to beat on the Ducati. 'I didn't get the best of starts to be fair, not my normal fast start,' he said. 'I was a bit steady from the start, and so I read my pit boards and I knew that Michael was going to be the man to beat today. 'I just wasn't sure who the battle was going to be with for second. So I got stuck in a bit, just watching my pit boards through the whole race, really.' Paul Jordan from Magherafelt enjoyed a strong run to fourth on the Jackson Racing Honda, with James Hind (North Lincs Components Suzuki) and Jordan's team-mate Josh Brookes finalising the first six. Jordan, who set his best Supersport lap at 126.358mph, said: 'I'm over the moon with the fourth-place finish today as well as the 126mph laps as it was tough conditions out there. 'The wind was pretty strong, which meant it was easy to catch you out, but I simply rode as hard as I could right from the drop of the flag. 'I just kept pushing as hard as I could, so to finish fourth is great, and with Josh in sixth it's been a good day for the team.' James Hillier was holding third on the second lap when he was forced out with an issue with his Bournemouth Kawasaki. Thursday's Sidecar race was postponed because of wet weather and is now due to be run on Friday, when the second Superstock and Supertwin races are also scheduled. There is no racing on Thursday at the TT, which is a rest day for competitors and teams.
