Micky Dunlop

[lew600fazer]

Well see Micky Dunlop has lost his ride with BMW or rather they have moved on as TYCO have binned Suzuki and are running BMW machines next season. So perhaps Guy Martin and William Dunlop are in for a real shout of there first TT win.

Micky Dunlop looks to be signing for Cresent Suzuki for 2015.

[Hedgetrimmer]

I've just been watching the 2014 TT and NW200 highlights, having started to regain a bit of an interest in racing again after being out of touch for many years. I'm surprised to hear this, as he said he really loved riding the BM after the NW, and his lap record from cold in the Superbikes round at the Island was amazing. But it looks to me that he could win on any bike that was reliable and competitive. Guy Martin 2nd in the Superbikes, but if it had been Michael Dunlop riding the Suzuki, maybe Tyco would have had a first?? Or maybe the BMW would have just won with any of the top names on board, as it's outright speed just seemed to stomp everything else, especially on the mountain part of the TT circuit. Tyco might have been so impressed by this that they decided they needed a BMW to win anything, which will put all the other manufacturers in a quandary - how to make enough improvements on their machinery to give them a chance against a bike that seems to have jumped ahead of them to quite a large degree. On the other hand, maybe BMW as a factory team just did what they wanted to do - put the BMW firmly on the road racing map, to impress others enough to want to take their bike up? I dunno, is this their first major season in road racing with the S1000RR?; all musings of someone who, as said, has been out of touch with racing for a long while though, and a couple of recent road races watched on video do not an expert make! 


On a by-note, can anyone recommend where to follow all the different races, road racing, MotoGP, BSB etc for 2015? I think there is still a good road racing magazine out there somewhere? What about MotoGP and BSB? I used to get Road Racer magazine many years ago, which covered road and track, and had some good technical articles as well as race reports etc; anything like that around nowadays?


TV: from what I've heard, it'd be awkward, and perhaps expensive, getting the relevant packages to watch all the different classes for 2015, but people have mentioned online sites where it can all be watched for free? Or a good online site that would be worth paying for?

[lew600fazer]

Nick found this. www.irishroadracers.smfforfree.com there are some interesting tit bits in there.
Looks as if M Dunlop will have his pick of machinery as he is suppoused to be getting factory supplied Kawasakis.

BMW a couple of seasons ago dipped there toes into the Irish road racing scene. They had Kieth Amor as there pilot and he won I think the NW200 and a couple at the Ulster Grand Prix, not sure if it was supersport or superstock though.

M Dunlop around the IOM is unbelievable but still on the wild side. He needs to back off a bit as he rides far to hard, as we know that place does not take to many prisoners.

I used to use www.realroadracing.com but sadly that site is now down.

Contact this guy he is a mind of information on the road racing scene.

baylon@btinternet.com

Hope this is helpful.
Lew

Isle of Man TT marvel
Isle of Man TT marvel Michael Dunlop could be on the brink of a deal to ride a factory Kawasaki ZX-10R Superbike with technical support provided by the official World Superbike team in 2015.

Dunlop, also linked with Paul Denning’s Crescent Suzuki World Superbike squad, parted company from BMW Motorrad following a stellar season this year.

The 25-year-old has now racked up 11 TT wins, drawing level with fellow Ulsterman Phillip McCallen and Scottish hero Steve Hislop.

Dunlop added more lustre to his international roads record in 2014 after bagging wins in the feature Superbike and Superstock races at the North West 200 plus the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races at the TT for the German marque.
 
 

However, Moneymore outfit TAS Racing is all but confirmed as BMW’s official British Superbike and roads team for 2015, with Guy Martin and William Dunlop spearheading the manufacturer’s assault at the North West, TT and Ulster Grand Prix.

It is a mirror image of the scenario Dunlop found himself in last year, when the Ballymoney man split from Honda after a sensational performance at the TT, sparking endless speculation over his next move.

And once again the rumour mill has been in full swing, with Dunlop linked to a string of teams and manufacturers.

However, the News Letter understands that Dunlop may have opted for Kawasaki power next year, despite reports that he missed a meeting with UK top brass at the recent Motorcycle Live Show at the NEC in Birmingham, where he had been expected to put pen to paper on a deal.

Kawasaki UK would run Dunlop in a one-man team with backing from Kawasaki Motors Europe and technical input and direction provided by Kawasaki Racing Manager Ichiro Yoda, who has a direct link with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) in Japan.

The team would be run separately from the Kawasaki UK-supported Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki outfit, whose rider James Hillier has re-signed for next season. Michael Dunlop could be on the brink of a deal to ride a factory Kawasaki ZX-10R Superbike with technical support provided by the official World Superbike team in 2015.

Dunlop, also linked with Paul Denning’s Crescent Suzuki World Superbike squad, parted company from BMW Motorrad following a stellar season this year.

The 25-year-old has now racked up 11 TT wins, drawing level with fellow Ulsterman Phillip McCallen and Scottish hero Steve Hislop.

Dunlop added more lustre to his international roads record in 2014 after bagging wins in the feature Superbike and Superstock races at the North West 200 plus the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races at the TT for the German marque.
 
 

However, Moneymore outfit TAS Racing is all but confirmed as BMW’s official British Superbike and roads team for 2015, with Guy Martin and William Dunlop spearheading the manufacturer’s assault at the North West, TT and Ulster Grand Prix.

It is a mirror image of the scenario Dunlop found himself in last year, when the Ballymoney man split from Honda after a sensational performance at the TT, sparking endless speculation over his next move.

And once again the rumour mill has been in full swing, with Dunlop linked to a string of teams and manufacturers.

However, the News Letter understands that Dunlop may have opted for Kawasaki power next year, despite reports that he missed a meeting with UK top brass at the recent Motorcycle Live Show at the NEC in Birmingham, where he had been expected to put pen to paper on a deal.

Kawasaki UK would run Dunlop in a one-man team with backing from Kawasaki Motors Europe and technical input and direction provided by Kawasaki Racing Manager Ichiro Yoda, who has a direct link with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) in Japan.

The team would be run separately from the Kawasaki UK-supported Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki outfit, whose rider James Hillier has re-signed for next season.

[lew600fazer]

Just heard this on BBC sport N Ireland.

Michael Dunlop has signed for Shaun Muir and Millwalkee Yamaha for 2015. He is doing the roads and also world endurance series. Also he has agreed to be backup rider on the BSB bikes if a rider is injured, check out the link on BBC sport N Ireland.

[lew600fazer]

Just heard this on BBC sport N Ireland.

Michael Dunlop has signed for Shaun Muir and Millwalkee Yamaha for 2015. He is doing the roads and also world endurance series. Also he has agreed to be backup rider on the BSB bikes if a rider is injured, check out the link on BBC sport N Ireland.