'Do I need to be here?' - Dunlop battles pain to end winless run
'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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