Michael Dunlop is a living and working racing legend. From that purest and sometimes misunderstood part, that of road racing or, as we usually say, “road races”. The Northern Irish driver has already achieved 33 victories, yes 33, in the Isle of Man TT. And he is, despite his 37 years, the most successful driver in the history of the island.
In fact, he has left behind his uncle Joey, who with 26 wins was for decades the most successful in the famous, complicated and dangerous race on the island’s roads. Now he is in search of new triumphs, and a photo on social networks suggests that he could try it with the Ducati Panigale V4.
It must be remembered that Michael already races in Supersport with the Panigale V2 with which he has achieved several victories. Victories that have eluded him in the Senior TT in recent years, and that he could seek with the Borgo Panigale superbike.
Michel Dunlop prepares his own bikes so why not a Panigale V4?
We have to go back to 2017 to find Dunlop’s last victory in the Senior TT at the controls of a Suzuki, while in Superbike that victory is closer, in the 2023 edition. As usual, in both they would compete with the same machine so they would have, if they did so with the Ducati Panigale V4, more opportunities to achieve it.
Of course, for now nothing is confirmed, only a photo with the V4 that talks about how her V2 felt alone, so the rest is fantasy. A fantasy that is totally possible given that it is Michael himself who prepares his motorcycles for the TT and it is something he has done with BMW, Honda, Suzuki, Paton and Yamaha, winning with all of them.
So why not? The new Panigale V4 is tremendously competitive in the WSBK, in the British, in the AMA, in the road races themselves… and trying it would be a different way of trying for the triplet for Ducati in the centenary year. Although they have it complicated right now due to their performance in MotoGP, in WSBK they have it in their pocket even though we are just starting, and there are many riders who could achieve it if Bulega fails. Why not think about winning the TT too?
And when we’re ready to order, do it remembering the decoration that Mike Hailwood wore in 1978. It would be an excellent way to celebrate although, for now, we have to wait.
