National road racing is 'finished' - Dunlop

Michael Dunlop believes that events such as the NW200 and Isle of Man TT will "thrive regardless" despite his assertion that national road racing is "finished".

The Ballymoney man broke his uncle Joey Dunlop's record for wins at the Isle of Man TT this year, but sees the biggest road race meets now featuring more and more competitors from the likes of the British Superbike Championship.

"People will not like it but national road racing is finishing. It's finished, we can see that," he said.

"The TT will thrive regardless, the North West will thrive regardless. That might be controversial.

"National road racing used to be the platform to go international road racing.

"Realistically, who is now winning international road races who is a national road racer? We're racing against BSB people now. That's who is at the front of the North West now, that's who wants to be riding at the front of the TT."

Dunlop's achievement at the summer's TT was feted in his home town over the weekend, with the 35-year-old calling the celebration a "privilege".

"That's what we do this game for, to see that reaction," he said.

"We don't do it for recognition, but a lot of people doing other sports, if they're successful, there's knighthoods, MBEs, OBEs, whatever it may be, but we just get sort of brushed under the carpet.

"The town doing this is great. It shows some people are still thinking of us."

His record-breaking feat at the Isle of Man has certainly raised his profile across the road racing world.

"You're getting recognition from different parts of the world, Australia, New Zealand.

"You're getting pictures sent to you from bars, and even if you walked into the bar, the people would never know who you are, but there's a picture on the wall of you on a bike. 

"It's cool because when I went to some of those different places, there's pictures of Joey on the bar and now you're seeing this."

Dunlop admits there are times he finds the profile that comes with his success sits uneasily.

"People don't understand people like me. We don't do it for fame, I don't classify myself as famous.

"We're not used to what's going on, some people think that's ignorance. I ride a motorbike, that's where I do my thing, and afterwards I just want to go back to being normal.

"People spend their whole lives on social media trying to be famous. I just want to be successful.

"People want to be a popstar or a TV presenter or whatever it is. I just want to be a motorbike racer because that's what we're reared in."

With Joey Dunlop's previous Isle of Man record having stood since 2000, his nephew says there is no doubt the new mark will be beaten in the future but wants to make that all the tougher for his challengers by extending his tally of wins in the years ahead.

"This year I was faster than I've ever been," he added.

"It's quite funny. With the injury, I thought the TT was going to be a massive struggle [this year].

"To know I went in in that shape, to go back again fit, I think we're all right."