Michael means business at TT on Isle of Man

The Ballymoney rider won his first Isle of Man TT race a year again when he conquered the tricky conditions in the second Supersport race to triumph over the factory teams and claim a landmark success on his privately-backed Yamaha R6.

Dunlop (21) survived a number of scares on the opening lap of the race but his close calls on the damp roads didn't faze him in the slightest and he's prepared to take the same risks at the TT this year in his pursuit of his second victory on the Island.

There is no doubt that Dunlop rides to the limit, perhaps beyond it on occasions, prompting his critics to label him out of control.

But his response to the suggestion that he takes too many risks is frank and honest.

"I'm a road racer, I'm out there to win races and taking risks is what I do," he said.

"Every time you put that helmet on you're taking a risk, but I'm in this game to win races and you don't win races by not taking risks."

Undoubtedly single-minded, stubborn even, Dunlop's often bullish manner and reputation as a rider not afraid to speak his mind has led to run-ins with officials and split his followers between the hedges.

Whatever your view of the loose-talking North Antrim lad, his talent on a motorcycle deserves the utmost respect.

His detractors sniped that he only won the second Supersport race last June because conditions were far from ideal, but Dunlop makes a strong case against those who seek to diminish his accomplishment.

"When Joey won at the TT in the wet people said he was a genius, a hero.

"When I won last year people didn't want to give me the credit, they said I only did it because it was wet," he added.

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"I won that race because I rode harder than anyone else and yes it was wet, but I set the fastest lap in practice when it was bone dry.

"I took risks on that first lap because I wanted to win and now I've got my first TT win.

"You look at the riders who haven't won a TT, like Guy Martin and Keith Amor and now I've got a TT win before they have, because I saw my chance and I took it."

Dunlop vividly remembers his battle to stay upright on a treacherous opening lap of the second Supersport race in 2009.

He danced with the devil on a make-or-break blitz to smash the opposition's resolve and the gamble paid off.

"I had a couple of big moments on the first lap out the back of the circuit but I didn't care," Dunlop said.

"I had a massive moment in through Glen Helen on that first lap and again coming out of Handley's, but every time I had a big moment I got my head down again and just got back on it.

"Obviously I could have came off as quick as anyone else, but I wasn't for being beat that day because I was so disappointed after breaking down in the first 600 race.

"Every time I was out of the seat I kept pushing and I was out of the seat every lap, because it was slippy all through the race," he recalled.

"For me to pull out such a big lead I had to push and put the pressure on all the time.

"If you make the mistake of thinking you can slacken off because you've got a lead, the next thing you know that lead will be gone and the seconds will come down."

Dunlop became embroiled in an on-the-road dice with Steve Plater but says his battle with the experienced Lincolnshire rider allowed him to keep his focus in the closing stages of the race.

"I love riding with Steve because he's great – he'll just jam the bike in the way I do myself and his attitude is 'if I make it through that's the main thing' and that's the way I ride.

"In that race last year at the TT Steve was waving at me and I was waving back at him.

"He would pass me and I would pass him and it was all good craic. I kicked the leg out at him coming in to Ramsey and then up on the Mountain he kicked the leg out at me – it kept us focused but it was good, clean fun."

Bitterly disappointed with his performance at the North West 200 last month, Dunlop is hell bent on making amends at the TT.

Whether that is a good thing or not remains to be seen, but nothing or no-one will stop him riding out of his skin to put the Dunlop name back among the headlines next week.

"People say the first win is the hardest and the rest come after that and I hope that's the case, but I doubt it.

"No matter how many you win I'd say it never gets easier; the 20th win would probably be every bit as hard as the first one was.

"I had my head down last year and went for it. I stuck my neck on the line, which I was willing to do, and maybe the other riders didn't want to stick their necks on the line, but I did it and I got my reward for it because I won a TT," he said.

"I'm prepared to do it again this year to make sure I come home with a victory.

"If the weather is good and the track is in good condition then you're going to have to be lapping at 126mph to be in with a chance in the Superpsort race.

"There's a lot of riders who will be willing to push into the 126mph but I'm willing to push it to 127mph.

"I need to know how the track is and how my bikes are going first. If I'm up to the job I'll be going for laps in the high 127mph bracket or even low 128mph laps.

"I want to win both Supersport races and I think I've a good chance in the Superstock race as well.

"I'll be going for it and that's it."

Dunlop will ride the Street Sweep Yamaha R6 in the Supersport class, plus the Robinson Honda and Hunts Motorcycles Fireblade in the Superbike and Superstock races respectively.

He doesn't hold back when assessing his chances, but Dunlop has the ability to back up his predictions and a second TT Supersport victory is very much on the cards.