Isle of Man TT: ‘I could win eight or I could win none’ – Dunlop

Dunlop has been keeping his options open during the first two qualifying sessions for this year’s TT, jumping from a 765cc Triumph to his more familiar 600c Yamaha in the Supersport class and swithering between the 2023 or new 2024 versions of the Honda Fireblade for the Superbike races.

The Northern Irishman has won the last four editions of the Supersport race on a Yamaha, becoming the first rider to lap the circuit in the middleweight class in excess of 130mph in the process, while his Hawk Racing Honda took him to Superbike race glory in 2023.

He will also campaign a Honda in the Superstocks and a Paton in the Supertwins.

With Tuesday and Thursday’s practice sessions having been cancelled, Dunlop hopes to make up for lost time when qualifying is set to resume on Friday.

“This place just throws up so many hurdles at you. We’re doing what we can with the time we’ve got and the best we can with the budget we’ve got.

“I feel good and all the boys are working hard, the team is good.”

Dunlop sits second in the Superbike qualifying leaderboard ahead of the resumption of qualifying on Friday, having set a lap speed of 131.729mph on Wednesday evening, marginally slower than the 131.729 posted by Milwaukee BMW rival Davey Todd.

He sits fifth fastest of the Superstocks so far on 128.870, but quickest Supersport to date courtesy of a circuit at 126.917 on his Yamaha.

“Usually by this time of the week we’ve had 20 to 25 laps while this year we have had a lot fewer and we have had some issues that are outside of our control but we’ll batter on.

“I feel like I should maybe have done more riding before I got here but that’s my own fault.”