Michael Dunlop will ride a Ducati for the first time at the Isle of Man TT after linking up with Paul Bird Motorsport in 2022.

The Ballymoney man was due to ride a Panigale V4R for the top-flight British Superbike team at the major road races in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

Dunlop, who has 19 TT wins, will ride a factory-supported PBM Ducati in the Superbike and Senior races at the TT. The 32-year-old will also compete on the machine at the North West 200 in May.

Team owner Paul Bird previously worked with Joey Dunlop in 2000, when the Irish road racing legend famously won the Formula One race at the TT, weeks before his tragic death in a racing accident in Estonia.

In 2011, PBM provided Dunlop with a Kawasaki ZX-10R when he won the 2011 Superstock TT as the duo linked up for the first time.

John Mowatt, PBM Team Co-ordinator, said:

“We are delighted to be able to fulfil our promise and commitment to Michael albeit two years later than we had hoped.

“We are thrilled to be contesting the major road races with Michael onboard the PBM Ducati and are hopeful of adding to both his and our considerable list of successes.”

Dunlop will ride his own machinery in the Supersport and Superstock classes under his MD Racing banner.