Isle Of Man TT: Michael Dunlop To Race BMWs In TT

Paul Carruthers | February 12, 2014

Michael Dunlop will race a BMW in the 2014 Isle of Man TT.

If you win seven Isle of Man TTs and are generally regarded as one of the fastest two men on the legendary mountain course, chances are you’re going to find someone who wants you to race their motorcycle. Turns out, BMW is that company.

Michael Dunlop, who couldn’t come to terms on a contract renewal with Honda, has inked a deal that will see the Northern Irelander aboard BMW S 1000 RRs in not only the 2014 Isle of Man TT, but also in other international street circuit events.

“I’m really pleased to have signed for such a strong and competitive team,” said the 24-year-old Dunlop in a release issued by the Isle of Man TT press office. “The BMW S 1000 RR certainly has the speed for the TT and, with my experience, the support from BMW Motorrad Motorsport and Hawk Racing, I know we have a race-winning package. I really thought about sitting out this year, but I have found a team that I am really comfortable with and the support from BMW Motorrad Motorsport will make us a force to be reckoned with this year.”

The team will be a combined effort of BMW Motorrad UK and Hawk Racing, who also run the Buildbase BMW Motorrad BSB team.

The team is hoping to emulate the victory in the Isle of Man TT by Georg Meier on a BMW exactly 75 years ago – BMW’s first win on the island. Meier beat his teammate Jock West in the Senior TT with both running Boxer-powered 500cc RS 255 Kompressors.

“We are extremely pleased to have assembled such an experienced racing team,” said Stuart Hicken, the team principal. “We have been working on it for a while and I genuinely believe that with Michael, the technical expertise from BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the BMW S 1000 RR, we have secured all the elements we need to be at the sharp end, challenging for a great result at the TT.”