Michael Dunlop isn’t just the Isle of Man TT’s most successful rider with a staggering 30 wins (and counting!). His legend is carved from something rarer, something almost superhuman: the ability to dominate on anything with two wheels.
Forget loyalty to a single brand; Dunlop’s genius lies in his chameleon-like skill, mastering bikes from seven different manufacturers to conquer the perilous Snaefell Mountain Course. This isn’t just about wins; it’s about the ten machines that are chapters in the story of a true TT titan.
1. Ducati Panigale V2 (2025)
His 30th win wasn’t just a number. Aboard the Milwaukee Ducati, Dunlop overcame an 8-second deficit to Dean Harrison in a rain-shortened Supersport Race 1, reeling him in with a final lap of 130.3 mph. This victory ended Ducati’s 30-year TT drought and marked an unprecedented 7th different manufacturer he’s won with.
2. Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade (2023-2024)
On the Hawk Racing Honda, Dunlop was pure fire. 2023 delivered Honda’s first Superbike win since 2015 and a 135.5 mph practice lap (unofficial Honda record). 2024 was pure drama: leading by 25+ seconds and setting a new Superbike lap record, a freak helmet issue cost him victory. His response? Setting an outright race lap record anyway.
3. Yamaha YZF-R6
The bedrock of Dunlop’s success. Nine Supersport wins, including doubles in 2022, 2023, and 2024. This “exacting tool” was his weapon of choice for relentless 600cc dominance, forming the “foundation of his Mountain course success.” He prised every ounce from the aging R6, trusting it implicitly until the Ducati called in 2025.
4. BMW S1000RR (2014)
Joining BMW/Hawk Racing, Dunlop silenced doubters with a stunning treble: Superbike, Superstock, and the iconic Senior TT. The Superbike win was BMW’s first in the class for 75 years. He clicked instantly, lapping at a record pace (131.8 mph) and proving he could deliver landmark results with any competitive machine. The “giant killer” era began.
5. Paton S1-R
Dunlop owns this class on the Italian Paton. Victories in 2018, 2019, 2023 (Race 1), and a dominant 2024 double. That first 2024 win was monumental – his 27th TT victory, surpassing Uncle Joey Dunlop’s legendary record. Consistently on lap record pace (122.7 mph official record set in 2018), this partnership is pure, winning symbiosis.
6. Triumph Daytona 675
While not a race winner for Dunlop, the Triumph was a serious Supersport player (Gary Johnson won on one in 2014). Intriguingly, Dunlop tested one for the 2024 TT before pragmatically reverting to his trusted Yamaha. It remains one of the few major marques he hasn’t conquered yet.
7. Suzuki GSX-R1000 (2017)
With Bennetts Suzuki (Hawk Racing), Dunlop faced early Superbike retirement. His response? Dominating the Senior TT on the brand-new GSX-R1000 model, winning by 13 seconds with a 132.9 mph lap. It was Suzuki’s first Senior win in 13 years, showcasing his ability to tame unproven beasts under pressure.
8. Honda CBR600RR
Before Yamaha’s dominance, the Honda 600 was Dunlop’s weapon. Four Supersport wins: a dominant double in 2013, Race 2 in 2014, and Race 1 in 2018. He also set the current Supersport lap record (130.4 mph) on a Honda in 2023. A critical platform for his middleweight mastery.
9. BMW M1000RR (2025)
Dunlop’s full-circle return to BMW power is serious. Gaining seat time via Le Mans 24H endurance racing (despite a crash), he campaigned Hawk Racing’s “works-spec” M1000RR (like Toprak’s WSBK bike) and his own MD Racing machine in 2025. An immediate contender, he finished a close 2nd in the Superbike TT with the race’s fastest lap (135.4 mph). The quest for more big bike wins continues.
10. Honda VTR SP1 (RC51) Replica
While not a race win, this machine embodies legacy. At the 2025 Classic TT, marking 25 years since Joey Dunlop’s final, Michael will ride a replica of Joey’s iconic 2000 factory Honda. It’s a profound, generational salute, connecting past and present Dunlop greatness on the Mountain.
The Dunlop Difference: More Than Just Wins
Michael Dunlop’s record is jaw-dropping: 30 wins, 46 podiums, multiple lap records across classes, the only rider to win 4 races in a week four times. But the numbers only tell half the story.
It’s the how – the fierce, often privateer “Bull of the Mountain” spirit, the unmatched adaptability across vastly different machinery, the resilience to bounce back from cruel luck (like the 2024 helmet issue), and the deep connection forged with teams like Hawk Racing – that cements his status as the TT’s ultimate legend.
