Road Racing

Dunlop set to race new GSX-R1000 with Bennetts Suzuki

1 Mins read
Michael Dunlop

Michael Dunlop will compete on the brand-new GSX-R1000 in 2017 after signing for the new-look Bennetts Suzuki team for the forthcoming season.

Dunlop will race the new machine at the 2017 Isle of Man TT, as well as the North West 200, the Southern 100 and the Ulster Grand Prix road races.

The Northern Irishman will also contest the opening round of the MCE British Superbike Championship at Donington Park in April.

Speaking about the deal, Dunlop said: “I was chatting with Steve [Hicken – team manager] for a while, and obviously we’ve worked together a lot before. With the new bike coming it’s been a bit different and we had to gather up exactly what was happening. We just needed to see what was going to be able to happen and to see where we were both going to be at this time.

“I know Steve and I know Stuart though, as people, and I know they can take a new bike and get it right. This is a good team and there’s a good link with Yoshimura. It’s going to be interesting this year. I’ve been helping the team build my own bikes and it’ll be good to have a run around at Mallory for a shakedown before we go to Spain.”

The 2016 Superbike and Senior TT winner and current out-right lap-record holder will get his first ride on the new GSX-R1000 he will race this season at a shakedown test at the team’s Mallory Park base today, before heading to Spain for tests at Cartagena and Almeria.

Bennetts Suzuki team manager, Steve Hicken, added: “We’ve known Michael for a long time and always wanted to work with him again this year, so we’re really pleased we’ve been able to put a deal together.

“We’ve made good progress already with the development of the new GSX-R1000, and we know the potential is there with the bike. With a proven winner like Michael on-board, there’s no reason we can’t be winning races right away. That’s got to be the aim.”

The Bennetts Suzuki team will now head to Cartagena for the first of two preseason tests, before the first official BSB test at Donington Park on 22 March.

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Josh is a Sports Journalism graduate and has been a member of the TCF team since 2015. Between 2015 and 2018, Josh focused primarily on British Superbikes and Road Racing events such as the Isle of Man TT. At the beginning of the 2019 season he became the MotoGP Reporter.
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