By TT 2010 saw Michael Dunlop’s star continue to rise around the Mountain Course.
A dramatic Dainese superbike TT, would see Michael produce at the time, his best performance to date in an international superbike race.
Piloting Street Sweep/Robinson Concrete backed CBR 1000 Honda Fireblade, he finished a sensational second, finishing leading Honda mounted rider, plus finishing in front of multiple established front runners in the superbike class.
Another momentous moment from the race, was lapping for the first time in excess of 130 mph.
Brimming with confidence, he went into the opening supersport race, amongst the main contenders for victory.
Following a slow start, which at one point saw him down in tenth place, by lap four he had battled his way up to third place.
But it was to late to challenge Ian Hutchinson and Guy Martin up front, as he finished third, securing his third podium finish at TT Races.
Onto the Royal London 360 superstock TT, which saw him finish eighth, having been in contention for a podium finish early on the Hunts Motorcycles Honda.
Next up was the second Monster Energy supersport encounter. Showing much improved form on the Street Sweep/Team Hardship Racing R6 Yamaha, he was quickly becoming involved with a close fought duel for victory with Ian Hutchinson.
Photo by Stephen Davison
In one of the all time great supersport races, Michael gave it absolutely everything on the final lap, going into race lead, before going back down to second.
As both Hutchinson and Dunlop crossed the line at the end of lap four, who had won, it was Ian Hutchinson who was victorious by just 1.45 seconds, as Michael Dunlop finished in second place.
Despite a stunning final lap speed of 127.836 mph, a new outright supersport TT lap record.
His race week ended in disappointing fashion with early retirement in the blue riband Pokerstars senior TT, which saw Ian Hutchinson become the only rider in TT history to win five races in a week, at the Isle of Man TT.
All in all though it was highly prodigious two weeks of competition around the Mountain Course, for Michael Dunlop.
Three podium finishes, first 130 mph lap and a new supersport lap record, showed that he was developing into the whole package at the most famous road race in the world.
Next instalment of Michael Dunlop the first ten TT years, focuses around TT 2011, where misfortune, Kwakas, magic and success would be just some of the words to describe his next two weeks of TT Races competition.
Words by Stevie Rial
