By On this day in history, the world land speed record was surpassed by Malcolm Campbell, the inaugural Daytona 500 took place.
Real road racing wise, six years ago added details around Michael Dunlop’s latest new machinery challenge, had been revealed.
At the time Road Racing News reported the following:
Hawk Racing are confident of more success with Michael Dunlop, at the international road races and Southern 100 in 2017, having re-signed the 13 times TT winner to ride for their new look, Bennetts Suzuki team.
After much speculation about what would be happening for 2017, it’s come as no surprise to many to see the Mountain Course lap record holder, remain loyal to a team, which has thus far provided him the tools for four big bike TT victories.
Bennetts Suzuki, Team Manager, Steve Hicken recently stated his delight at securing Dunlop’s signature, for the upcoming 2017 roads season.
He said:
“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-R 1000, 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.”
Dunlop added his thoughts, on his latest challenge, described by some as a gamble.
“I was chatting with Steve 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 this year too.
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 rest as they say is history, ‘Race of Legends’ success at Armoy, a new outright lap record at the Southern 100 and most notably Suzuki’s first Senior TT success in thirteen years.
In 2017, now 21 times TT winner Dunlop had proven that the impossible was possible, can he prove this phrase and some again this year?
Photo credit: Stephen Davison
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
