Michael Dunlop lands BMW deal

piyushw February 13, 2014

Michael Dunlop pictured with the BMW S1000RR Superbike that he will race in 2014. The 24 year old seven time TT winner visited BMW UK's headquarters at Bracknell where he saw the Superbike and Superstock versions of the German machine that he will ride at the North West 200, TT, Ulster Grand Prix and Macau Grand Prix. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

BY ROY HARRIS – 12 February 2014

There had been talk of him retiring from motorcycling — but the mercurial Michael Dunlop has now put those rumours to bed by signing a lucrative deal with BMW Motorrad UK and Hawk Racing.

The seven-times TT winner told the Belfast Telegraph he was delighted to have put pen to paper for such an influential team, and is looking forward to making an impact in 2014.
“Having tested the machine recently, the BMW S 1000 RR certainly has the speed for the TT and with my experience and the support of this new team, I know we have a race-winning package,” said the Ballymoney man, who admitted that he had considered taking a break from motorcycling.
Dunlop, who won the Malcolm Brodie award at the recent Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards after a terrific season in 2013, said: “I really had thought about sitting out this season; in fact I had deliberated taking in a few car rallies with a Mark 2 Escort I have at home, but I have found a team that I am really comfortable with.”
The superbike Michael will ride will be similar to the machine that Italian Marco Melandri and Chas Davies rode in the 2013 World Superbike Championship.
This year brings the 75th Anniversary of George Maier’s historic win of the Senior TT in 1939 — the first and only TT victory by the German manufacturer.
Dunlop, who won four races in succession during last year’s TT festival when riding Honda machinery, will be keen to give his new team their second TT victory come June.
Of course everyone anticipated that Dunlop would automatically re-sign for Honda this season, but it wasn’t to be and the unpredictable talent, who set two new lap records during the TT, did not get flustered when no sign of a 2014 ride appeared to be coming his way.
However they say that all good things come to those who wait and Dunlop has got the deal he harboured.
The recently-crowned IFS international and national road racer of the year and the man granted the Freedom of his home town said: “Yes, I won four races last year at the TT including my first superbike victory, but the Senior TT is the Blue Riband race and I have my eyes set on that this year, having finished second last time out.