Michael Dunlop: Injury no excuse in bid to end my North West 200 drought

The Ballymoney rider’s last win at the event came in 2016 in the Superbike class on a Hawk Racing BMW.

On Wednesday, the 35-year-old was third fastest in the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport classes and Dunlop has vowed to ‘have a push’ as he takes on leading British Championship names including eight-in-a-row NW200 Superbike winner Glenn Irwin and National Superstock 1000 title leader Davey Todd.

Dunlop is riding three brand new machines at Ulster road racing’s premier event and unveiled his MasterMac Hawk Racing Honda on Tuesday evening.

He is also riding a Triumph 765 Supersport machine and a Honda Fireblade Superstock bike under his own MD Racing umbrella.

On Wednesday, the 25-time Isle of Man TT winner was 4.2s down on Carrickfergus rival Irwin, who set an unofficial lap record in Superbike qualifying to claim provisional pole.

Dunlop showed no ill effects from a rare tumble after he crashed out of the Supersport invitation race on his Triumph at the Cookstown 100 in April.

“I did [pick up an injury] but it’s something that we will have to adapt to this weekend; I can’t really use it as an excuse because I feel good at the minute, I feel like I’m prepped and ready to go,” he said.

“It’s good, the weather is looking decent and it’s good coming here with the weather looking good all week.

“We’re back to road racing again and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.

“We’ve all new motorbikes this year which has taken a lot of stress to get them ready, especially in the workshop where we’ve been dealing with a lot of engines, so we’re trying to get everything done to get these new bikes on the road.

“Last year I think we gave a good account of ourselves but I think the results didn’t do us justice, in my opinion. I just thought there would have been more but the results just didn’t work for us.

“But we’ll see. Hopefully we can get through the week, get some data for the bike and see where we’re at.

“The Superbike has never turned a mile and it’s literally brand new.”

On the prospects of challenging for his sixth success at the event, Dunlop added: “I would like one because it’s been eluding me for a while. It’s a bit sad because I’d like to have a win here but come Thursday and Saturday, we’ll have a push.”

In warm and dry conditions, Irwin fired a warning shot across the bow of his rivals with a 124.895mph lap on the Hager PBM Ducati to knock Milwaukee BMW’s Todd off the Superbike top spot right at the end of the session.

The British Superbike Championship leader, on a high after a bank holiday treble at Oulton Park, was inside Peter Hickman’s 2022 outright lap record as he put down an early marker.

The 35-year-old could equal the record of nine Superbike wins at the NW200 on Thursday, which is jointly held by Michael Rutter and Joey Dunlop.

“The pace was incredible, hats off to the team,” said Irwin. “There’s a lot of people around the course already and it’s just class to be here.

“I think it’s just nice to have a good day one but of course it’s nice to respond when people go top and you know you can go out and go top again.

“The cool thing is the fans are seeing lap record speeds by very capable riders and that’s great for the event and everyone involved.”

Final qualifying takes place on Thursday with roads closed from 9am to 3pm ahead of the evening race schedule (4.45pm to 9pm).

The opening Superbike race will be held first followed by the first Supersport event and Superstock race, all over four laps of the 8.9-mile course.