Michael Dunlop

Career

North West 200

Dunlop secured his first North West 200 victory in 2008, winning the 250cc race on a Honda. The win came two days after the death of his father, Robert Dunlop, during practice for the event, and the day before his funeral.

In 2013, Dunlop claimed his second North West 200 victory by winning the Superstock race on a Honda, finishing ahead of Bruce Anstey and Lee Johnston.

In 2014, Dunlop added two further victories to his North West 200 record, winning both the Superstock and Superbike Race 2 events on a BMW. The wins marked his third and fourth career victories at the meeting and his first with the German manufacturer. He was also named the first recipient of the Robert Dunlop Man of the Meeting award, introduced to honour his father's legacy at the event.

In 2016, Dunlop added a fifth North West 200 victory by winning the Superbike race on a BMW. During the race, he set a new Superbike lap record of 4 minutes 22.095 seconds at an average speed of 123.207 mph.

In 2025, Dunlop returned to winning form at the North West 200, claiming victories in the Supersport, Superstock, and Superbike races. The wins marked his first on Ducati machinery and brought his career total at the event to eight, ending a nine-year spell without a victory there. His Superbike win was initially disputed due to a 10-second penalty for missing the Mather's Cross chicane, but the penalty was later rescinded, and Dunlop was officially declared the winner.

Isle of Man TT

Dunlop made his Isle of Man TT debut in 2007 and claimed his first victory two years later, winning the second Supersport race in 2009 on a Yamaha. Over the following decade, he established himself as one of the most successful riders in the event's history, securing wins across multiple classes including Superbike, Supersport, Superstock, and Supertwin. In 2016, he became the first rider to complete a lap of the Mountain Course in under 17 minutes, setting a new outright lap record with a time of 16 minutes 53.929 seconds at an average speed of 133.962 mph during the Senior TT. His record stood until 2018, when Peter Hickman posted a lap of 135.452 mph during the Senior TT, becoming the first rider to surpass Dunlop’s benchmark.

In 2024, Dunlop surpassed his uncle Joey Dunlop's long-standing record of 26 TT wins, becoming the most successful rider in the event's history. In May 2025, a left-bend at the 27th mile from startline was chosen to be named MD's, to acknowledge the event of his 27th win in 2024.

Dunlop continued his winning form in 2025, claiming his 33rd TT victory in the second Supertwin race and extending his podium tally to 51. During that race, he also set a new class lap record with an average speed of 123.056 mph on the final lap. That same year, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to motorcycle racing.

Cookstown 100

Dunlop has achieved multiple victories at the Cookstown 100, Northern Ireland's oldest motorcycle road race. His wins span Superbike, Supersport, and Open classes, secured on machinery from manufacturers including Honda, Yamaha, BMW, and Ducati. In 2025, he won both the Supersport and feature Superbike races, setting a new outright lap record of 1 minute 22.377 seconds at an average speed of 91.773 mph.

Armoy road races

Dunlop has had a long-standing association with the Armoy Road Races, where he has been a consistent front-runner across multiple classes. In 2022, he withdrew from the meeting, stating that his team was "not being treated on an equal and fair basis" compared with other entrants. He returned in 2023, claiming his tenth victory in the Race of Legends, the event's headline race. This brought his total number of wins at Armoy to 29, spanning various categories including Superbike, Supersport, Supertwin, and others. In July 2024, Dunlop said he would not return to the event, citing budget limitations and dissatisfaction with club support.

Southern 100

Daytona 200

Dunlop has competed at the Daytona 200 twice, finishing 11th on his debut in 2021 and returning in 2025 to place 9th aboard a Milwaukee Ducati Panigale V2.

Tandragee 100

Dunlop has competed at the Tandragee 100 since at least 2006, achieving 13 race victories at the event as of 2025. After a twelve-year absence following his 2013 appearance, he returned in 2025 to win both the Open and Feature Superbike races aboard a BMW. During the event, he set a new absolute lap record of 111.584 mph (2:52.403), becoming the first rider to record a 111 mph lap at Tandragee.

Complete TT record

British Superbike Championship

British Supersport Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

FIM Endurance World Championship

Media and publications

Dunlop features prominently in the 2014 documentary Road, narrated by Liam Neeson.

In 2017, Dunlop published his autobiography Road Racer: It's in My Blood.

References

References

1. (2008-05-17). "Dunlop's son races to NW 200 win".
2. (18 May 2013). "Michael Dunlop wins Superstock race at North West 200". BBC.
3. (17 May 2014). "Michael Dunlop clinches two victories". BBC Sport.
4. (12 May 2021). "NW200 Superbike classics: Michael Dunlop breaks lap record to win in 2016".
5. "Superbike – North West 200".
6. (10 May 2025). "Dunlop takes controversial Superbike win for NW200 treble". BBC Sport.
7. (9 May 2025). "Michael Dunlop's verdict after first North West 200 win on a Ducati". Crash.net.
8. Petrie, Richard. (30 May 2024). "Michael Dunlop - eight of his most memorable IOM TT wins". BBC Sport.
9. "29 TT Wins – Michael Dunlop – MD Racing".
10. (10 June 2016). "Michael Dunlop breaks Isle of Man TT lap record". BBC Sport.
11. (1 June 2018). "Michael Dunlop wins Isle of Man TT Superbike race". BBC Sport.
12. Petrie. (8 June 2018). "Isle of Man TT 2018: Hickman sets record in Senior TT win". BBC Sport.
13. (5 June 2024). "Michael Dunlop becomes most successful Isle of Man TT rider". The Guardian.
14. [https://www.acu.org.uk/News/2024/06/Dunlop-Makes-History-With-27th-TT-Win/default.aspx Dunlop Makes History With 27th TT Win] [[Auto-Cycle Union]], 5 June 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2025
15. [https://gef.im/news/tt/corner-named-after-tt-goat-53756/ Corner Named After TT GOAT] gef.im 23 May 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025
16. (7 June 2025). "Win No 33 – Records Keep Falling".
17. Andreas Denner. (7 June 2025). "Michael Dunlop wins 33rd TT race and sets new Supertwin lap record". Motorcycles.News.
18. Mohan. (13 June 2025). "Dunlop and Booth receive MBEs in King's Birthday Honours". BBC Sport.
19. "Cookstown100.org – History".
20. White, Kyle. (26 April 2024). "Cookstown 100: Michael Dunlop dominates on Hawk Racing Honda for Superbike victory". News Letter.
21. Rial, Stevie. (27 April 2015). "Michael Dunlop's Eventful Cookstown 100". Road Racing News.
22. White, Kyle. (26 April 2025). "Cookstown 100: Michael Dunlop blasts outright lap record to win feature Superbike race on new BMW for double". News Letter.
23. (26 April 2025). "Cookstown 100: Michael Dunlop returns to winning form with Superbike and Supersport double". BBC Sport.
24. (29 July 2022). "Michael Dunlop withdraws from Armoy Road Races". BBC Sport.
25. White, Kyle. (29 July 2023). "Armoy Road Races: Michael Dunlop wins 'Race of Legends' Superbike finale for 10th time". The News Letter.
26. Robinson, James. (12 July 2024). "Armoy Road Race: Michael Dunlop vows he won't be back after sealing Senior Superbike and Supersport wins at Southern 100". Belfast Telegraph.
27. (14 July 2011). "Michael Dunlop wraps up Southern 100 wins". Crash.net.
28. (15 July 2011). "Dunlops Double at Southern 100 Meeting". Auto-Cycle Union.
29. Stevie Rial. (25 October 2019). "Stats: Southern 100 Race Winners 2010–2019". Road Racing News.
30. (12 July 2019). "Michael Dunlop suffers injuries in Southern 100 crash". BBC Sport.
31. Kyle White. (10 July 2025). "Southern 100: Michael Dunlop toasts 26th victory in record-breaking Supersport race showdown with Davey Todd". News Letter.
32. Duncan. (10 July 2025). "Davey Todd takes Solo crown at 2025 Southern 100, Michael Dunlop wins in Supersport". Crash.net.
33. Robinson, James. (9 March 2025). "Michael Dunlop records top ten finish at Daytona 200". Belfast Telegraph.
34. (6 May 2006). "Tandragee 100 – 125/250cc Results (2006)".
35. Petrie, Richard. (28 June 2025). "Dunlop clinches big bike double at Tandragee 100". BBC Sport.
36. "FIM EWC Standings".
37. (6 October 2014). "Dunlop racing dynasty film 'Road' shown on BBC One NI". BBC.
38. Stevie Rial. (16 April 2017). "Michael Dunlop – Road Racer: It's In My Blood – Book Review". Road Racing News.