More legendary than ever: Michael Dunlop brings the Suzuki 750 to victory in Classic TT Formula 1

Michael Dunlop, ever more a legend on the lethal 60.6 kilometers of the Mountain Circuit on the Isle of Man. The King of the Tourist Trophy, with 36 wins to his name, also triumphed in the most prestigious category of the Classic TT, Formula 1.

On paper, the Classic TT is a historical reenactment, as the queens of the past take to the roads. But in practice it’s a full-on speed challenge, no less than the real Tourist Trophy held in June. This time Michael Dunlop put wings on the Suzuki GSX-R 750 SRAD fielded by Steve Wheatman’s Classic Suzuki team. Over the scheduled three laps—more than 180 kilometers!—MD was his usual special self: he started somewhat calmly, but once he took the lead he unleashed his pace and on the final lap delivered another of his feats. Namely, a record lap at an average of 129.078 mph (that is, over 207 km/h), improving by 13 seconds the previous Classic TT Formula lap record of New Zealander Bruce Anstey (127.496 mph), which had stood for nine years. For Michael Dunlop, it’s his fifth victory in the Classic’s premier class.

In the late afternoon, Michael Dunlop also won the Lightweight Classic TT, riding the two-stroke Honda 250 GP run by Padgett’s, one of the most storied teams across the Channel. It was a particularly evocative showing, because Padgett’s had run his father Robert at the ’94 TT. Michael Dunlop also won the Classic race reserved for vintage GP two-strokes last year.

With 36 victories, MD is the most successful rider at the Tourist Trophy, a record long held by his uncle Joey Dunlop, who reached 24. In this era, another 4–5 road racers are blazing fast on the Mountain, but only Michael Dunlop has that special touch that makes each of his races a romantic tale suspended between legend and the deadly risks of traveling at these speeds on a course where, in many sections—even on classic bikes—speeds brush 300 km/h. In the 2026 edition of the TT, held in June, the road racing phenomenon did the double in Supersport with the Ducati Panigale V2 and won the sole remaining SportBike race on the program with the Paton: a very Italian triple.

The Classic TT runs concurrently with the Manx GP, the series of competitions reserved for amateur riders and newcomers to the Mountain Circuit. Sadly, qualifying saw three very serious accidents, which claimed the lives of Swiss rider Mauro Poncini and Manxman San Naughton. Meanwhile, Salvo Sallustro, who crashed at Greeba Bridge, is still hospitalized in Liverpool.

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Photo: IOM TT Races