Roads: Dunlop set for Honda Supersport machinery

Michael Dunlop will return to Honda power for the Supersport categories at this year’s international roads meetings.

The 15-time TT winner has linked up with the PTR Honda squad, who have supplied him with a race-spec CBR600RR for the 2018 season.

Dunlop has strong form on PTR-prepared Honda machinery having set the current Isle of Man TT Supersport lap record on his way to victory aboard a PTR CBR600RR in 2013.

The news, confirmed on twitter by the PTR squad, marks the first confirmation of Dunlop’s 2018 plans with a question mark still hanging over what he’ll be riding in the big bike class.

The Ballymoney ace has been linked to numerous outfits over the winter and was rumoured to be in line for a potential switch to the Tyco BMW team, but it’s now looking likely he’ll stand firm and remain with Stuart and Steve Hicken’s Hawk squad on the Suzuki GSX-R1000.