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Tyco BMW have today confirmed a new partnership with fifteen-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop for the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other International Road Races.  

The 28 year old Northern Ireland rider will campaign the TAS Racing-prepared Tyco BMW S1000RR in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior Races at the Isle of Man TT and further International road racing events including the North West 200 and Ulster GP.

With multiple race wins and lap records under his belt since his TT debut in 2007, Michael's skill and determination is without doubt and he remains the first and only rider to lap the 37.73mile Mountain Course in less than 17 minutes. His passion for road racing is mirrored by that of father and son pairing - Hector and Philip Neill - team owner and manager of TAS Racing. The Northern Ireland-based team have to date secured 27 International North West 200 victories and 18 race wins at the iconic Isle of Man TT.

The team's official full road race schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

Philip Neill – Team Manager:

“It has taken some time for this to come together and I’m very happy to confirm Michael Dunlop and TAS Racing/Tyco BMW will finally work together in 2018. Michael and I have discussed options to work together on various occasions and I honestly believe this is a partnership that simply had to happen at some point. My father and I, together with all the guys at TAS Racing, are excited and looking forward to the challenge. We would not be in this position without the support of our partners Tyco and BMW Motorrad and both are extremely happy to reach agreement with Michael for the 2018 season”

Michael Dunlop:

“Tyco BMW and I have spoken many times but nothing ever came of it, but this year everything fell into place. I think it’s a good time for us both to work together and I think both of us can bring something to the table. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcome”

It was great to meet everyone who passed by including competition winners -
Paul Keegan, Moya McBride, Samantha Beresford, Kelly Mottershead + family, Robert Alston, Paul Severn, Andy Rigby, David Dodds, Nigel Richards and Jayne Hinchliffe.
 
Also great to see (and have a chat with) the Rainy City club, all those on the Helmet park and stand from NABD, Pete from Chunky Tread Motorcycle Adventure Club, Dave from BMF, Duncan Gough, the lads from Whistlestop MCC picking up books for the cafe, Hells-Belles Wmc, Wendy and Gazza, Chris Thomas, Andreea Maciuca of Female Riders UK, Alex and the lovely Tilly!

Jodie Kidd and Matt Roberts will lead the new presenting line up for the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy TV broadcasts this year.

The TT is broadcast worldwide with 15 one hour preview, highlights and review shows screened on ITV4 in the UK and eleven available through international broadcasters including Discovery Channel in the USA and Fox Sports in Australia.

The pair will be supported by former leading TT competitors Cameron Donald and Steve Plater with Cameron providing race commentary alongside experienced motorsport commentator Dave Moore.

Previously Jodie Kidd has fronted Channel 5’s The Classic Car Show alongside Quentin Willson as well as hosting CNN Equestrian for CNN International and participated in Tour de Celeb which saw her tackle epic cycling event L’Etape du Tour in France. A petrol head at heart, Jodie has extensive racing experience in four wheel motorsport and raced some of Europe’s most prestigious circuits in the Maserati Trofeo Series.

Jodie Kidd said:

“I’m so excited to be presenting this year’s Isle of Man TT Races broadcast for ITV4. I’ve followed the remarkable TT Races for a number of years and the event is undoubtedly one of the iconic events in world motorsport. It’s going to be an incredible experience to see it first hand and it’s a real honour to be asked to present the programmes.”

Matt Roberts, who currently fronts Eurosport’s coverage of the World Superbike and British Superbike Championships, was also part of the Eurosport team covering this year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. His motorcycle presenting experience also includes being the BBC’s anchor for their MotoGP coverage.

Matt Roberts said:

“There is a huge amount of respect for the TT riders in every race paddock I’ve ever been to. Anyone who understands and appreciates motorsport knows the skill, dedication, application and focus that is required to race around the Mountain Course and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to tell the story of this incredible event.”

Cameron Donald and Steve Plater need no introduction for TT fans with the pair having both stood on the top step of the podium on the Isle of Man – Donald memorably winning two races in 2008 while Steve Plater’s career included victory in the 2008 Supersport and 2009 Senior TT Races.

In an unprecedented move, two of the Isle of Man TT’s greatest ever riders will join forces at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy with John McGuinness set to ride for Michael Dunlop’s MD Racing team in the two Monster Energy Supersport races. 

McGuinness, who will be making his return to the TT this year after missing the 2017 meeting due to injuries sustained at the North West 200, will ride a similar CBR600RR Honda to team owner and rival Dunlop in the four-lap races, which will be held on Monday 4^th and Wednesday 6^th June.

Dunlop and McGuinness both have an excellent track record in the class with the Northern Irishman winning last year’s four lap race when Yamaha-mounted while 23-time winner McGuinness was victorious in both 2005 and 2006 for Yamaha and Honda respectively. Riding for the latter exclusively since 2006, the Morecambe Missile added further Supersport podiums to his haul in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013.

Since 2010 McGuinness has lined up in the colours of Padgetts Racing and, more recently the Jackson Racing team, finishing in the top five on no less than eight occasions with his most recent outing in 2016 seeing him finish fifth. His fastest lap in the Supersport category, 127.210mph, came in 2013 when he made his last visit to the podium in the class which makes him the fifth fastest rider ever to have lapped the Mountain Course on a 600cc machine.

Dunlop still holds the lap record for the class having lapped at 128.667mph on his way to a double victory in 2013 when riding the CBR600RR. MD Racing will be making their return to Honda for the two Monster Energy Supersport Races for the first time since 2015.

Speaking about the tie up, John McGuinness commented:

“I’m excited to be riding Michael’s bike at this year’s TT.  It’s started off as a bit of a joke conversation between us both and has developed into him going off and building me a bike. I’m a big fan of Michael’s both as a rider but also for what he has done in terms of running his own teams and winning races out the back of his van against the factory teams over the years. The Dunlop name means so much to TT fans and as a fan myself, I can’t wait to represent that name at this year’s event. We’ve won 38 TT’s between us so together we know what needs to be done and I am sure we will be right at the sharp end.”

Michael Dunlop added:

“I hadn’t ever really planned on building another bike, but when John started talking to me about it, I thought it was a great idea and I couldn’t really say no. It’s good for me, it’s good for my team and no matter who you are, the man has won 23 TT races so there is always going to be something that can be learnt by having him in working alongside you. People don’t see him as a 600cc rider, but he’s won races and had lots of podium finishes on a 600cc bike and I will give him a bike capable of winning on.”