2024: THE YEAR OF MICHAEL DUNLOP

For over 117 years, gladiators of motorsport, daredevils of two-, three- and four-wheels, and chasers of true freedom, have sailed to the Isle of Man to push themselves and their machines to the limit in the quest for greatness.

There was the first win, the first 50mph, the first 100mph. There was 10 wins, then 20 wins, and 5 wins in a week. But 26 wins has remained the elusive, just out of reach, target. The one thought never to be beat. But if it were to be, it should be within the family name. And after 24 years he did it.

2024, was the year of Michael Dunlop.

The Legacy of Michael Dunlop

Few names resonate with the Isle of Man TT as much as “Michael Dunlop”. A family name synonymous with road racing glory, Michael has carved his own path while honoring the incredible legacy of the Dunlop name.

His career is a testament to raw talent, grit, and an unyielding drive to succeed, making him one of the most celebrated riders in TT history.

His TT debut in 2007 at just 19 years old offered a glimpse of the career ahead. By 2009, he clinched his first TT win in the Supersport class, marking the beginning of something special.

2009 marked the start of something special.

In his many years at the Isle of Man TT, he’s demonstrated his learned and earned skill, entertaining the thousands of fans that have watched from the hedges, and more recently online around the world.

From iconic on-track battles with John McGuinness, Bruce Anstey and perhaps most notably Ian Hutchinson, to close finishes, and his notorious outbursts of pure adrenaline fuelled passion, they amount to the enormous respect and awe for him, his talent and his unique personality.

Michael had iconic battles on track, including with John McGuinness

Throughout his career, Michael has been more than a TT racer. Running his own team, building his own bikes and sourcing his own funding is what has allowed him to earn his success, and his place among road racing’s best.

He's more than just a racer.

His accomplishments across all the classes at the TT, from the Supersport where he holds the current lap and race records, to the Superbike, on which he became the first to record a sub-17 minute lap and holds the lap record on, and the Supertwin in which he took home the all-important 27th win, he has mastered each machine in ways few others can claim.

Other than the Dunlop family themselves.

Honouring the Family Name

The Dunlop family legacy is inseparable from Michael’s story - his father, Robert, his uncle, Joey, and his brother William all raced at the Isle of Man TT, and all exhibited the same talent which has taken Michael this far.

It’s no secret that those men sacrificed themselves to the sport they so adored, and we have seen Michael’s relentless pursuit of excellence bring the family name from the early 2000s into a new era.

Michael’s achievements have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible at the TT. With Joey’s name on everyone’s lips, over the last 15 years Michael edged ever closer to Joey’s remarkable legacy at the TT.

Uncle Joey's legacy has been on everyone’s lips for the past two years

Despite that pressure of living up to the legacy left behind by the Dunlops before him, Michael thrived, turning the challenges, physical, mental and emotional, into moments of triumph.

It’s that which sets Michael apart; not just his racing prowess but his resilience in the face of adversity.

Tragedy has marked his career, with well known personal losses that might have ended another rider’s journey. Instead, Michael has shown an unstoppable, almost stubborn spirit, channeling these hardships into his unwavering commitment to winning in the sport he loves.

Year after year, he has returned to the Snaefell Mountain course and demonstrated fearlessness and precision that captivates fans of him and the Dunlop family, fans of motorsport, as well as his peers and world-class sportspeople alike, all whilst remaining humble and largely private.

He returns to the Mountain year after year, but always remains humble.

2024: A Year for the Record Books

Michael Dunlop’s 2024 campaign was a masterclass in riding excellence. Known for his aggressive yet calculated riding style, Michael has an almost uncanny ability to extract every ounce of performance from his machines.

Whether threading the needle through the tight bends out of Ramsey or unleashing incomprehensible speed along the Sulby Straight, where he clocked the quickest speeds in the Superbike TT and the two Supertwin TT races, his mastery of the Mountain Course is now officially second to none.

Michael took the lap record of the year on the Superbike at TT 2024.

For Michael, 2024 has been a testament to his unbreakable focus and drive. Even in the face of setbacks during practice sessions or certain visor challenges on race day, he has consistently delivered performances that leave spectators in awe.

King of the Mountain

His ability to maintain composure under pressure and rise to the occasion is a key ingredient in his continued dominance, which took him over the line to match uncle Joey’s total wins.