Victory on Sunday in the Superbike class was his 23rd career race win at the TT, equalling John McGuinn🐽ess’ tally, and putting him just three behind his uncle Joey Dunlop who holds the all-time reco༒rd.

Pivotally for Dunlop, this was a first Superbikes win in five years🍒.

"People thought I couldn't win on the big bikes any more," Dunlo🥃p told .

"I might🐼 not seem it or look like it, but I'm delighted to prove I can still win on the big bike.

"People doubted me and my big bike ability🌌 bu𓃲t Steve and Stuart [Hicken, OF Hawk Racing team] believed in me.

"They told me to get the best out of th﷽e bike and assured me that I've still got it.

"No matte🦋r what happens now, I've won a big bike rac♔e again.

"I have to say thanks to the Hickens for putting a great packag🅰e under me. It was tougꦑh, it never gets any easier, but the bike felt good and I felt good. I'm happy.

"I built up a lead, managed it and rolled it off heavily on the last lap, then🦹 I saw the gap coming down and some waved yellow flags came out.

"I was so nervous about trying to keep it going."

Dunlop finished 8.2s ahead of Peter Hickman on Sundayꦐ.

A day earlier he won the Supersport race, and last week𝔉 he broke the unofficial lap recor🐈d during qualifying.

He has six further opportunities at this yeaꦐr’s event to chase his uncle Joey’s total of 26 TT wins.

Dunlop said: "I'm not worried about th𓄧eไ record, to be level with John McGuinness is fantastic though. 

"John is a great ambaꦰssador for motorcycling in general.

"I'll just continue to ride hard and enjoy it."

McGuinnes꧑s, wꦫho finished sixth in the Superbike race then embraced Dunlop for matching his tally afterwards, said: "It's an amazing achievement by Michael. 

“I🌜 spent a lot of time with him in 2013 when we were team-mates and he deserves all the plaudits that come his ꦆway.”