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Belfast Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop has everything he needs to continue leading way, insists Phillip McCallen
Dunlop ended a nine-year wait for victory at the Triangle road race on Thursday, clinching a Supersport and Superstock double. The Ballymoney man then added a Superbike success on Saturday to complete a terrific treble, giving him eight career wins at Ireland's premier motorcycle race. It was Dunlop's first Superbike success around the 8.9-mile course since 2016 when he triumphed on a Hawk Racing BMW. Now riding BMW machinery for the first time since the Armoy Race of Legends national meeting in 2021, Dunlop put himself back on the top step on Saturday, much to the delight of his thousands of sun-drenched fans. It has been an impressive start to 2025 for Dunlop, who was a double winner at the Cookstown 100 in April in the Supersport and Superbike classes as he warmed up for the major road races. Dunlop will now be looking ahead to the Isle of Man TT where he became the most successful rider in history at the legendary event in 2024, winning four times to set a new benchmark of 29 victories. He has changed his stable of machinery for 2025, switching from Honda to BMW for the Superbike and Superstock classes and changing from a Yamaha R6 to a Ducati Panigale V2 Supersport machine. Dunlop is set to continue riding an Italian Paton in the Supertwin races at the TT where he won both races in the summer of 2024 plus both Supersport events to break his legendary uncle Joey's record of 26 wins around the infamous Mountain Course. With long-time backers Stuart and Steve Hicken of Hawk Racing continuing to support Dunlop in 2025 and his close-knit MD Racing team behind him – headed by loyal sponsor and right-hand man Gary Ryan – McCallen says the road racing superstar is in his strongest position for years with the TT only weeks away. 'It's the team and the backup,' said McCallen, who is an 11-time TT winner. 'For the last few years, it's looked like he's had his bikes at the last minute or he's come here still building bikes and doing different things and he's not really ready. 'This year, he's been racing, he's done an endurance race (at Le Mans), he's done other races this year, and I know these are new bikes but the teams are really, really good. 'He's got the same teams as he's had for years and he's totally confident with those people because there is a big worry of 'who is working on my bikes and what are they doing with it'. 'So, he's happy with his teams and he knows he's got good bikes. 'That Ducati, apparently there is no higher-spec Ducati in Europe than that; his BMW Superbike, allegedly – and it looks like it – there's no higher-spec than that in the country as well. 'His production bike is definitely good and the Hawk boys, the team that he is so, so happy with, they have built him TT and North West-winning bikes, although more so at the TT. 'He's happy with them, and in my mind, if I had that Ducati, I'd be happy; if I had those BMWs with that spec, I'd be happy as well. 'I think that's all showing now, and lots of other years he hasn't had the miles he's wanted. 'He has come here (North West 200) with maybe a few race miles done, but this year, he has come mentally prepared, he's definitely physically prepared and he's mechanically prepared, so why would you not be happy?' Carrickfergus rider Alastair Seeley was unable to achieve a milestone 30th win at the North West on his return to the event after a year's absence, however Dunlop is on the cusp of reaching that remarkable landmark at the TT. On current form, it appears to be a matter of when, not if.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'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. Dunlop takes NW200 Supersport and Superstock double BBC Sport NI at the NW200 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." 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.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
'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 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 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 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 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 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.
