Tourist Trophy – Michael Dunlop will drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020 – Occasions DUCATI

Posted on by admin

Michael Dunlop to drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020

Tourist Trophy - Michael Dunlop will drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020 - Occasions DUCATI

We knew he was looking for a – good – handlebar in the Superbike category for the next TT, but also in search of challenge and motivation … Michael Dunlop has found: he will drive the Ducati Panigale V4R of the PBM team, dominator in British Superbike and formidable in Road Racing. Explanations.

The latest news from Michael Dunlop dated from the beginning of February: the Northern Irish rider then laughed at the multiple rumors on Facebook about his commitment to the Tourist Trophy 2020 in the Superbike category and indicated that he was still open to proposals….

In the end, the man with 19 Isle of Man TT wins (against 26 for his uncle Joey and 23 for McGuinness) picked up an extremely tempting offer from one of the best British motorcycle speed teams: Paul Bird Motorsport !

  • MNC special file :
  • MNC special file :

Last year in British Superbike, the PBM team won almost everything: its riders Josh Brookes and Scott Redding won 21 of the 27 races contested (10 and 11 respectively), the BSB 2019 title going to the second, the "rookie "from MotoGP !

The team’s feat is all the more remarkable – and noticed in high places in Italy – since it was accomplished with a brand new bike, the Panigale V4R. Very well born and visibly adapted to the BSB formula – without electronics! -, the Ducati also led Tommy Bridewell to third place in the British Championship.

Tourist Trophy - Michael Dunlop will drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020 - Occasions DUCATI

Thanks to the Italian Super (be) bike and its two top riders separated by only 5 points in the end, PBM considers the 2019 season to be its finest in British Superbike. Which is saying a lot, since the team had already been crowned six times: 2002, 2003, 2012 (Kawasaki), 2014, 2016 and 2017 !

In road racing, Paul Bird Motorsports and the Ducati Panigale V4R have been a little more discreet for their first season together: David Johnson is "right". In 2018, Glenn Irwin and the Panigale V2 had been brilliant, notably winning …

The best BSB team and the big name in TT

Scheduled for the week of May 11 to 18, 2020, the Northern Irish event will serve as a warm-up for new PBM recruit, Michael Dunlop! The native of Ballymoney, however, already got to know his new companion last Sunday in Jerez (Spain) during official BSB tests..

Tourist Trophy - Michael Dunlop will drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020 - Occasions DUCATI

Although in the Tourist Trophy (his 19th success in the "Snaefell Moutain Course"), Dunlop had a particularly difficult 2019 season: a crippling wrist injury at the NW200, an unfortunate accident in rally car and .

By committing to PBM in 2020, Michael hopes to return to his best level. Moreover, the association between the driver and this team has already been fruitful on the Isle of Man: in 2011, Paul Bird Motorsports had prepared the Kawasaki ZX-10R of the young winner … Michael was then just 21 years old. !

Tourist Trophy - Michael Dunlop will drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020 - Occasions DUCATI

The elders remember that another collaboration between Dunlop (the family, not the tires) and PBM was also successful: it was in the year 2000 when Michael’s uncle, the legendary Joey, had landed his 26th and final TT victory on the Honda VTR1000SP1.

Three years later, PBM and Ducati had allowed John McGuinness to climb two podiums at the Tourist Trophy. In his last participation in the TT, PBM – then passed on Kawasaki – won with Ian Hutchinson in Superstock 1000 (2nd Superbike and 3rd Senior TT).

Tourist Trophy - Michael Dunlop will drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020 - Occasions DUCATI

This year, Michael Dunlop will ride his own bikes in the Supersport and Superstock categories, but he is counting on PBM to once again aim for victory in Superbike and "Senior TT". For the record, he won on Honda CBR1000R, in, and on BMW S1000RR and on the new Suzuki GSX-R1000R !

Will the Panigale V4R satisfy one of the most charismatic, fast and stubborn riders in Road Racing? It is better for the PBM team and for the Ducati brand, because Mister Dunlop is as famous as feared for his outspokenness, his rants and slamming of doors….

Tourist Trophy - Michael Dunlop will drive a Panigale V4R of the PBM team at the Tourist Trophy 2020 - Occasions DUCATI

In 2015, a few days (hours!) From the first race of the Tourist Trophy and for perfectly legitimate reasons of performance and safety, the "Raging Bull" had not hesitated to just run in to take back the handlebars of a S1000RR which gave him more satisfaction and confidence … "Mamma mia".

Michael dunlop

"I must say that I am very motivated by this new challenge. I did not really have any plans in the pipeline, I had spoken with a few people but I did not really know what to do, or even if I was was going to do something. But I have achieved some things since then and I was like “damn it, go for it.” I would like to thank all the guys at PBM for the hard work they are now going to do so let the bike be ready for the race. Thanks also to Aaron for supporting me with all these operations, it was long but he remained present. And thanks to my sponsors who make it all possible ".

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *