Retro Rewind: Michael Dunlop signalled new era for legendary racing dynasty with maiden Isle of Man TT triumph in 2009

Could anyone have predicted that Michael Dunlop would return the name of road racing’s most legendary dynasty to the top step so quickly at the Isle of Man TT in 2009?
Ballymoney man Michael Dunlop at Union Mills on the Street Sweep/Marlow Yamaha R6 in the second Supersport TT race in 2009.Ballymoney man Michael Dunlop at Union Mills on the Street Sweep/Marlow Yamaha R6 in the second Supersport TT race in 2009.
Ballymoney man Michael Dunlop at Union Mills on the Street Sweep/Marlow Yamaha R6 in the second Supersport TT race in 2009.

His uncle Joey’s hat-trick in 2000 was the last time a Dunlop had sprayed the victory champagne on Glencrutchery Road, but less than a decade later a new era for Northern Ireland’s most famous sporting family dawned as Michael clinched his first TT victory.

Riding his privately entered Street Sweep/Marlow Yamaha R6, the 20-year-old led from start to finish in the weather delayed second Supersport race to wrap up a famous victory.

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He capitalised on the damp conditions to assert himself in the early stages, lapping at 119.743mph on the first lap – a far cry from his 126mph lap during practice, which unofficially shattered the lap record.

Michael Dunlop looks to the sky as he stands on the top step of the rostrum following victory in the second Supersport race at the 2009 Isle of Man TT.Michael Dunlop looks to the sky as he stands on the top step of the rostrum following victory in the second Supersport race at the 2009 Isle of Man TT.
Michael Dunlop looks to the sky as he stands on the top step of the rostrum following victory in the second Supersport race at the 2009 Isle of Man TT.

Dunlop enjoyed a lead of 10 seconds over Manxman Conor Cummins (McAdoo Kawasaki) but continued to increase the tempo.

His second lap of 122.692mph gave him a bigger advantage of 15 seconds over Cummins, with Bruce Anstey (Relentless Suzuki) in third.

After his pit-stop, Dunlop continued to pull away as conditions began to improve all around the Mountain Course.

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In complete control, he lapped at 125.077mph on the fourth and final lap to secure a comfortable win by 31 seconds from Anstey, with Cummins finishing on the rostrum in third.

A jubilant Michael Dunlop celebrates his first Isle of Man TT win with sponsors Gary Ryan (left) and Martin Marlow.A jubilant Michael Dunlop celebrates his first Isle of Man TT win with sponsors Gary Ryan (left) and Martin Marlow.
A jubilant Michael Dunlop celebrates his first Isle of Man TT win with sponsors Gary Ryan (left) and Martin Marlow.

Dunlop’s emotional maiden triumph came 11 years after his late father Robert’s fifth and final TT victory in the 1998 Ultra Lightweight race.

It was a huge moment for the young racer, who had finished on the podium in the Supersport class behind Steve Plater and Anstey a few weeks earlier at the North West 200.

Afterwards, he told me his first TT win – coming in his third year at the event – was ‘more than I ever dreamed of’.

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“It was good to get a win at the TT – it was more than I ever dreamed of,” said Dunlop.

“I was fairly confident after the North West that we had a chance of getting on the podium at the Isle of Man.

“I was really started to get frustrated because I was having no luck and things were going wrong.

“I blew up my main engine in the first Supersport race and I had to get the other one flown over,” he added.

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“The lads had to pull out all the stops to get the bike ready in in time.”

Reflecting on the damp conditions at the start of the race, Dunlop said it was always his plan to put in a strong first lap.

“The conditions weren’t that bad on the first lap,” he said.

“It was wet and damp in places but it was the same for everybody. I wanted to put in a good lap on that first lap because I wanted to show the boys that I could win the race.

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“I’d been having a bad week with bits breaking down and the lap that I did in practice suddenly seemed far away.

“I broke the lap record in practice but after the problems we had all week, people forgot that I could do anything. I wanted to ride hard on that first lap so that if I did break down again, people would see that I could have done it.”

Dunlop also took plenty of satisfaction out of beating all of the main 600cc protagonists in the four-lap race.

“I did a 125mph lap on my last lap when conditions still weren’t perfect,” he said.

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“It was great becausey they all finished, apart from maybe one of the big boys (Guy Martin).

“My bike worked grand and fair play to Gary Ryan and Martin Marlow, because they gave me the bits I needed for the bike and we got the job done.”

Dunlop was also due to race at Norton NRV 588 at the TT in 2009, but the bike lacked development and proved hopelessly uncompetitive and unreliable.

Michael said: “The Norton thing was a bit of a disaster but we couldn’t do much about that. It was a pity for the Norton team.”

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Over the next 10 years, Dunlop won another 18 TT races and is now the third most successful rider ever at the event with 19 wins.

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