Dunlop's Change
To Milwaukee Yamaha R1
John Newman
Last week Michael Dunlop signed a contract to ride a Milwaukee Yamaha R1 for the 2015 season. A strange decision on the face of it, given his success in riding the BMW 1000RR to a number of wins in 2014, including the TT where he put BMW on the top step of the podium for the first time in over seventy years.
This is another change of bike for Dunlop, who before slinging his leg over the BMW was riding a Honda, and over the past couple of years has become a one person rumour and speculation subject for the motorcycle press and the Belfast Telegraph where regular reports on Irish riders and racing appear.
A scroll through the news items about Dunlop links him with just about every race team out there with the exception of Ducati and Aprilla. And at one point he announced that in 2015 he would take a sabbatical from racing: this was never going to happen.
He's an enigmatic character who doesn't easily lend himself to the corporate requirements of todays teams and sponsors. His public spat with his brother William after he had beaten him in last years NW200 Superbike race caused a flurry of negative commentary from race fans who don't find him endearing in the same way as Bruce Anstey, John McGuinness, Guy Martin etc.
Love him, hate him or don't care? What's your opinion? Email us at
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