Michael Dunlop to ride factory Yamaha in 2015 Michael Dunlop will ride for the factory-supported Milwaukee Yamaha team on the all-new YZF-R1 at the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy. The Ulster rider will also compete on the machine at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix as part of the deal, which sees Dunlop switch to a third different manufacturer in as many years. Dunlop, who made his TT debut in 2007 after winning the 2006 Manx Grand Prix Newcomers Race, has chalked up eight wins on the Mountain Course in two years after consecutive four-timers in 2013 and 2014 to increase his record to 11 wins, the same total as Steve Hislop and Phillip McCallen. The 25-year-old won both the Superbike and Senior races at the TT last season for BMW, giving the German marque its first big bike successes at the TT in 75 years. Dunlop has also won in the premier class for Honda, taking victory in 2013 in the Superbike race, and secured Supersport and Superstock victories on Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha machinery. Dunlop said : "I've gone on record as saying that I'll only race if the package is right and in the Milwaukee Yamaha team I'm confident in both the bike and the support team that will be in place. "We've already had a look at the bike that I'll be riding and the early indications are really good but I'm looking forward just to getting out on the track and testing it properly." Dunlop also hopes to run Yamaha machinery in the Supersport and Superstock classes this season under his own MD Racing banner and as part of the Milwaukee deal, has been named as the team's stand-in rider for the British Superbike Championship. He will also be part of Yamaha's Endurance World Championship team and is set to compete at selected rounds of the series including Le Mans and the Bol d'Or. It's also been reported that Dunlop will attend Yamaha's official team launch at the end of February with MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Milwaukee Yamaha team owner Muir added: "Michael Dunlop has proved himself to be the leading road racer over the last few years and his recent TT record is second to none. "We are really confident that the new Yamaha will prove to be more than competitive on the Isle of Man and in Michael we have the rider to deliver its potential." Dunlop, fifth in the outright TT winners list, holds the fastest ever standing start lap of the TT course at 131.890mph, set on his way to victory in the Senior race last year. Muir's experienced road racing team have enjoyed notable success at the TT including podiums with Guy Martin. They supported Josh Brookes and Ian Hutchinson at the 2014 TT and Conor Cummins and William Dunlop also rode for the team in 2013. Milwaukee Yamaha has also enjoyed significant success in the British Superbike Championship, most notably in winning the 2011 title with Tommy Hill.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/spor...d=522117_528267&idkeep=True&epslanguage=en-GB Just seen this, looks like he'll be difficult to beat again this year. He's fast running out of manufacturers who'll support him though. He's pissed off Honda, BMW and Kawasaki in a he last 2 years and no doubt yamaha by the end of this year. It's a shame as he's a fantastic rider and guys (on this forum) who've met (and drank) with him says he's a top bloke. Others disagree and I still think what he did to William at the NW200 was pure nasty but he's showed the other side of his personality when his brother crashed at the TT. Complicated bloke
In addition, I hope he's found a team he can work well with and improves his personal persona as this looks like a fantastic deal for him.
I'll have a proper read on train.... But he doesn't look so daft turning the kwak down now does he Usually more than meets the eye.... IG, did he piss off BMW? Just thought he was unlucky with teams etc. as for kwak, yam might of put this too him which he thought he'd take. All we know is he might of politely said thanks but no thanks, so no need for a meet - only the media came out and said he was a no show?? Honda I'm pretty sure he pissed off lol
looks so much better than the standard colours, don't know what it is but just don't like the road version much
BBC Sport - 'New bike, new challenge' for Michael Dunlop Interview with BBC NI here. Looking forward to seeing him on the bsb circus. *i can offer a translation if needed.
MD said that he beat McG, imo McG was not fully fit so it do t count now let's see if he can beat the big man on the R1 this year with McG back to full fit, if there is such a thing as a fit McG..lol Also Yam may not give him the F1 motor he had last year in the BM
Certainly looks fit in the interview not his chubby self,in my honest opinion I think he is the one they all have to beat to be on top of podium,he just seems to have the hunger and desire over the rest,granted he ain't the short circuit rider but giving the road he is the best at present
To be fair to Michael, Arthur, McGuinness was fit in 2013, he won the senior after all, but Dunlop beat him on identical machinery in four races. Even McG himself said he wouldn't have believed a stock bike could go that fast except he saw Michael pass him and disappear. I can't see yamaha not wanting to put everything into getting a win with inevitable sales boost, how long they can keep Michael in the fold is another question.
Yeah I agree, sorry should have said my quote was MD saying re the senior TT race year gone. MD is the man to beat ATM for sure.
I booked accom. for the NW200 last night, it must be a good omen to read this today - looking forward to seeing him blast past us again only this time on the Yam.
Funny how guy martins attitude off bike is remarkably similar to michael dunlops yet you english boys never give him much grief for it Lol Whatever way you cut it, 8 wins in 2 years... Hes the man to beat right now and id say Yamaha will pull out all the stops this year marketing the R1 so expect very fancy machinery!
Maybe MD needs to do some TV programs I'm currently reading GM's autobiography and to be honest I don't like him as much as when I started reading it, but that is because he is scarily honest in it, admits being a twat at times, and explains why he only does 30 minute interviews etc. Would be interested in how GM is perceived by the Southern Irish Real Road Race crowd as he appears to have a lot of respect for them.
I'd be more interested in seeing how MD would fair doing a few rounds of the BSB as a lot of 'being good' at Road Racing is how big ya Balls are when faced with riding at 110% when surrounded by stone walls. Seeing him in the far safer surrounds of a Race Track would give a far better indication of his overall riding talent against brilliant riders who may have too much self preservation to ever consider entering Irish Road Races.
