Roads: McGuinness and Dunlop join forces for Supersport TT

Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness will join forces with rival Michael Dunlop to race a CBR600RR in the supersport class at this year’s TT.

Dunlop, who has already confirmed he’ll run his own Honda 600 under the MD Racing banner this year, has built a second machine for the 23-time TT winner who is looking to return from injury after missing last year’s races with a broken leg.

The Morecambe Missile had the external fixator cage taken off his leg two weeks ago and is now working towards being fit for this year’s road racing season.

The news that McGuinness will ride the Dunlop machine finalises his 2018 TT plans, which will also see him race the Norton in the superbike class, the Mugen in the electric class and Ryan Farquhar’s KMR 650cc twin in the Lightweight category.

“I’m excited to be riding Michael’s bike at this year’s TT,” McGuinness said. “It started off as a bit of a joke conversation between us both and has developed into him going off and building me a bike. I’m a big fan of Michael’s bother as a rider but also for what he has done in terms of running his own teams and winning races out the back of a van against the factory teams over the years. The Dunlop name means so much to TT fans and as a fan myself, I can’t wait to represent that name at this year’s event. We’ve won 38 TTs between us so together we know what needs to be done and I am sure we will be right at the sharp end.”

Dunlop added: “I hadn’t ever really planned on building another bike, but when John started talking to me about it, I thought it was a great idea and I couldn’t really say no. It’s good for me, it’s good for my team and no matter who you are, the man has won 23 TT races so there is always going to be something that can be learned by having him working alongside you. People don’t see him as a 600cc rider, but he’s won races and had lots of podium finishes on a 600cc bike and I will give him a bike capable of winning on.”