'Do I need to be here?' - Dunlop battles pain to end winless run
"I was sore and I was thinking, 'Do I need to be here? It's sore to be here', but I thought it was time to keep going."They say wins are like buses. You wait ages for one....Even Michael Dunlop's most ardent supporters - of which there are many - would not have expected him to win two of the opening three races at the 2025 North West 200.Despite his success at the Isle of Man TT, where he became the rider with the most victories in the road race's storied history in 2024, his home event had been a more barren affair. He had not stood on the top step at Northern Ireland's international road race since 2016. The fear his winless run on home soil would continue only grew after an accident towards the end of Superstock qualifying on Thursday afternoon.The 36-year-old had a high side on an out lap exiting the Magherabuoy chicane and, although he returned to the pits to take part in the final two sessions, it was evident to onlookers he wasn't 100% comfortable. It was even at the point where Steve Hicken, the team manager of Hawk Racing, said Dunlop might not be able to compete in all three races on Thursday evening. But it was wearing those same scuffed leathers that he stood on the top step of the podium on Thursday evening. Not once, but twice.
'I'm not 100%'
Even after three laps of the Supersport race, victory didn't look on the cards. Leaders Davey Todd and Richard Cooper had knocked metaphorical lumps out of each other, which had kept Dunlop in play in a five-bike battle for the lead. However, as Cooper looked ready to pull the pin on the fourth and final lap, Dunlop and his new Ducati moved past Todd at Station corner and set after the leader. He reeled Cooper in and blasted past him on the run to Magherabuoy - the same chicane where he crashed hours earlier. From there, Dunlop didn't look back. Even from the media centre at the top end of the paddock you could hear the cheers from the grandstands as Dunlop crossed the line, despite the roar of the other bikes still finishing their own races."It's nice to win in Northern Ireland again at international level," said Dunlop."It was about being in the right place at the right time. I've been mugged here before and I got my finger out. The slipstream is beautiful here and I decided it was time to get a push on."Dunlop admitted he was wondering in the early laps whether he could fight through the pain to finish the race. But, with the leaders still in sight, he persevered."I've damaged the shoulder a little bit so I'm struggling to brake full pin. "I'm not 100% but I'm not using it as an excuse. The bike was mint."
'I've proved I'm still fast'
After that race, Dunlop said he would keep his "head down and keep going".He did just that. While it was a last-lap dash for his first win, the following race was a much more controlled performance. He was aided by Alastair Seeley not being on the grid with a mechanical issue, and contender Peter Hickman skipping a chicane on the opening lap. Todd looked to have pulled away out front, but Dunlop reeled him in and an issue at University corner saw the 8TEN rider miss his braking on the penultimate lap.Although Dean Harrison piled on the pressure, he had no answer and Dunlop came home in first place with a couple of seconds in hand."I've proved tonight I'm still fast. It's great, I knew it was going to be hard and I knew that race was going to be hot and heavy," Dunlop added."The boys have worked hard to get everything ready, I appreciate it. I haven't won in a long time and it was a kick in the face, so to win again is another weight off my shoulders. "I've not come here fully fit for a long time, but we've overcome it and won two races tonight."Twenty-five years after his passing, this year's North West 200 has been one of celebration of the life and legacy of the legendary Joey Dunlop, who Michael surpassed to claim the Isle of Man TT record last year.But on Thursday night it was time for Michael, Joey's nephew, to bask in his success as the sun set on the north coast of Northern Ireland. With six more races to come on Saturday, he might not be finished yet.
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Michael Dunlop and Neil Booth have spoken of their immense pride after being awarded MBEs in the King's Birthday 36, is regarded as a road racing great as the record holder for the most number of wins and podiums at the Isle of Man TT, making it 33 victories just last Ballymoney man comes from a family synonymous with motorcycling and tragedy, with his father Robert, brother William and uncle Joey all tragically passing away while pursuing the sport they has remained committed to racing as, in addition to his exploits on the Isle of Man, he has enjoyed success at the North West 200, claiming his first victory just days after his father's death in 2008 when topping the podium in the 250cc most recent outing at the North West saw him secure a hat-trick of wins to bring his tally to eight overall and further cement his legacy in the now follows in the footsteps of his uncle Joey, who was also made an MBE in 1986 before being presented with an OBE 10 years later."This is a wonderful honour for me and for my family," he said."I am proud to represent Northern Ireland sport, and motorcycling in this country."Our team has had another brilliant year, with a hat trick at the NW200, and smashing into the record books again at the Isle of Man TT."To be the not just the most successful rider in the history of the TT, but also to have the record number of podiums and to have won on the biggest number of manufacturers is extremely special."I am humbled to be awarded this honour from the Palace." 'This award is for the entire sport' - Booth County Antrim bowler Booth has spoken of his "delight", having been awarded an highly-decorated 57-year-old enjoyed a remarkable career on the green and has since brought that expertise into his role as coach of the Irish men's team which opens its 2025 Mainstream International Programme with a test match away to Bowls Jersey over the will go there with an added spring in his step after news of his recognition was made public on Friday and he admits he was a little shocked when first contacted."I saw the letter outside the door with 'Cabinet Office' on the front and started to think I was going to be extradited, but I was delighted when I opened it up," he said."I can't imagine what the whole occasion will be like, but I'm really looking forward to it. We'll make a weekend out of it but I imagine I'll be pretty nervous."Booth recently collected the High Performance Coaching Award at the Sport NI Sportmaker ceremony at Titanic Belfast and this will sit alongside a host of medals and honours collected down through the Portglenone man is a three-time medallist at the World Championships which includes gold in the fours back in 2004 when the Championships were held in is also in possession of four Commonwealth Games medals, including gold from the 1998 edition in Kuala Lumpur and bronze in Manchester 2002 - both in the fours - while taking silver medals in the triples in the Melbourne Games of 2006 and again in Glasgow a coach, he helped guide Northern Ireland's men to the men's fours title at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with Gary Kelly taking silver in the men's 2020, he completed a charity challenge when playing bowls in 52 clubs throughout Ireland to raise awareness of mental health issues, which underlined his commitment to help awarding of an MBE is the crowning glory and Booth reflected on a superb career, but insists he will accept the award on behalf of the entire sport."I've probably played at that high level from he late 80s, early 90s, all the way through to 2014," he added."Since then, the coaching role has gone really well and the men's team is second in the world at the minute, which is exceptional. I'm just delighted as this says a lot about the sport in general. It's come on leaps and bounds over here, so this is an award for the entire sport, as much as it is for myself."
