Michael Dunlop poised for milestone 100th start at 2026 Isle of Man TT with Ballymoney star scheduled to contest eight races
Michael Dunlop is poised to make his 100th start at this year’s Isle of Man TT.
Dunlop is the most successful rider in the history of the event, taking over from his legendary uncle Joey in 2024, whose record of 26 wins stood since 2000.
The 36-year-old has won 33 TT races around the Mountain Course after securing a third consecutive four-timer with double wins in the Supersport and Supertwin classes in 2025.
The Ballymoney rider has started 94 TT races but will have the opportunity to mark a milestone century of race starts in June, when he is scheduled to compete in eight races, including the Superbike and Senior races, both Supersport and Superstock events and the two Sportbike (formerly Supertwin) races.
He rode a Ducati Panigale V2 to victory in the Supersport races last year, earning the Italian manufacturer’s first TT wins in 30 years.
Dunlop also rode an Italian Paton to victory in both Supertwin races and finished a close runner-up in the Superbike TT to Davey Todd, riding a ROKiT BMW.
The Ulsterman, who finished third in both Superstock races last year on his MD Racing BMW), has yet to officially confirm his line-up of machines for 2026.
However, he hinted that he was set to continue riding the Ducati V2 Supersport machine this year during his attendance at the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year Awards in Belfast in January, where Dunlop won the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year title for the second successive year.
He has also been linked with a Ducati V4R for the Superbike class in a switch from BMW.
“Ducati was keen and dabbled their hand in last [2024] year, and obviously came back with the V2, the next generation, and they wanted me to come and try and win a TT,” Dunlop said, speaking at the event.
“It worked out well, it’s another manufacturer for me.
“It’s nice that it’s 30 years since Ducati has won a race [at the TT] and it’s my 30th, and all the rest of it.
“It’s a big challenge for me to take on something completely different but it obviously played out.
“I want to still win races and I wanted to get into the thirties, and we’re into the thirties.
“I don’t feel like I was stressed last year at all.
“I feel like there’s more there with the 600 and I’m working with the boys over the winter to make that bike better; it’s the same with the twin and now we’re going to the big bike.”
Dunlop’s success last year included a Superbike, Superstock and Supersport treble at the North West 200 for his first wins on the north coast since 2016.
He also won races Superbike races at the Cookstown 100 and Tandragee 100 and a clinched a Supersport victory at the Southern 100, before rounding out the year with victory in the Lightweight race at the Classic TT on a 250cc Honda.