Michael Dunlop points at reason Isle of Man TT “harder for somebody like me”
Michael Dunlop insists “I’ve always been the underdog" at Isle of ♌Man ♍TT

Michael Dunlop claims that winning big road races, including the Isle of Man🎶 TT, is “♏getting harder”.
Dunlop ܫsmashed the all-time win record at the TT last year, eclipsing his uncle Joey’s tally of 26 which had stood since 2000.
He has amassed 29 and will be back at the TT this year to add to his legen♛dary status - but has warned that the challenge is getting more difficult because other riders are blending road racing with short circuit racing.
“I don’t know, the job is🐓 getting harder obviously because a lot of people riding s🌄hort circuits are riding the roads now,” Dunlop was quoted by .
“It’s a lot harder for somebody like me becau💯se when you’re riding a bike day in, day out, it’s eaꩲsy.
“But when you’re somebody who only rides maybe North West, TT an♈d the odd bit here and there, you’re relying on a lot of raw talent to be quick straightaway.
“Those boys are quick because they’re doing domestic cham♚pionsh⛦ips and fast at that. So yeah, I knuckled down."
Michael Dunlop 'always been the underdog'
Despite his record-breaking around the Mountain Course, Dunlop insists he ca▨nnot be tagged as a favourite.
“A couple of years ago people sꩲaid I didn't have Superbike race wins in me anymore s✨o I knuckled down again," he said.
“I’ve always been the underdog, always h♉ave been, but I’ve known in my ability.
“There’s a ⛄fine line of being cocky and confident and it’s nice having a little bit of both, because you become a cocky confident person and that’s something that I’ve always known, that I’ve the ability to ride motorbikes.”
Dunlop set his fastest Isle of Man TT lap ♚last year on the Hawk ♛Racing Honda, clocking 135.970mph.
He began his 2025 with a ride at the Daytona 🌊200 in Flori♎da, United States, where he finished ninth.
Dunlop will find his old rivals at the TT a𒀰g🌠ain this year.
Peter Hickman and Davey Todd, who won races las💝t year, will be back. Legends like John McGuinness will battle on.
But Dunlop knows he must keep an eye on a newer generation whoไse short circuit experience could give them an ꦆedge.

James w🅰as a sports journalist at Sky𒐪 Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.