Michael Dunlop has been linked to four different manufacturers in the past seven days according to the grapevine gossip, which circulates like wildfire once the NEC bike show in Birmingham kicks into life.

Despite his departure from the official BMW set-up, it still hasn't ruled out the Ballymoney man from riding privately-entered German machinery at the three international road races in 2015.

That in itself isn't a shock, but since SMR team owner Shaun Muir, who manages the Milwaukee Yamaha BSB set-up, announced in a UK-based publication that he would run a one-rider team at next year's TT, Dunlop's name, as expected, has been inextricably linked as a possibility.

Muir did make it clear that the rider would not be his British Superbike number one, however. That is Josh Brookes, but with the Aussie more than keen to do both the North West 200 and TT, one wonders will an 11th hour turnaround take place, akin to this year?

Dunlop, who has 11 TT wins under his belt, has also been linked to a high profile Kawasaki BSB team to spearhead their road racing campaign, and he's also been spotted talking to a highly respected and well-utilised BSB team manager, who is reportedly keen to put Dunlop on Suzuki machinery at TT2015.

In other news, all-new Belfast-based team Collision Kawasaki will make their debut in the Pirelli National Superstock 600cc Championship next season with 17-year-old English rider Jesse James Jones.

Cookstown racer Richard Glasgow was expected to fill the second berth after making the trip to Brands in October, but the Co. Tyrone man has opted out of the deal according to local sources.


Paul Lindsay

As ever with Michael Watch this space.

Trust me as I have said 7 weeks ago MD will be riding for [font=Arial]Shaun Muir, who manages the Milwaukee Yamaha and they will give Honda the birch, you heard it first on this forum from spanners.

MD may ride a Suzuki when was the last time a suzuki won a big race at the TT or have I missed something?

Think I'm with spannerman on this one, he'll fancy a go on that new Yamaha R1 be a last min deal as well I bet so he can keep his options open.

But will the new Yam be what was hoped for as Yam have put back their return to WSB till 2016 probably indicating they are not happy with it

now in the wings Smith Triumph team are to run the Trump in SS and are said to be running BMW in the BSB , now they are no strangers to the TT so would be nicely placed to give MD a ride with a factory one would have thought would be very keen to have on one of their bikes again , mmm just a thought

Man I would love to see MD do it on that Milwaukee Yamaha. The bike is gorgeous.
Have to agree with the knowledge on here though. The R1 just can't hang on the Mountain Course.

(27-11-2014, 08:17 PM)JonesthebikeMD may ride a Suzuki when was the last time a suzuki won a big race at the TT or have I missed something? Wrote: 2008, Cam Donald. 

The new yamaha is in development stage granted but the specification on the new bike is very impressive and after the current bikes lack of performance in everything it entered I'm sure they'll strive to get it spot on this time. The bmw he rode last year was a bit unknown on the roads, as for Suzuki yes I think Luke it was Cam Donald that won last when his team mate was Bruce Anstey and it's pretty much the same bike there running now apart from a few upgrades, it would be great if he went with Suzuki and won everything, one things for sure he will be riding something at the TT and riding it well and super fast. Good luck to Md and to wee Willy as well top fellas the pair of them.

The new R1 is more track focused, the wheelbase is to short to be a top tt bike , bmw /kawasaki

Big thumpa      I am not sure where you got your theory or facts on the 2015 R1 being to short for to handle the mountain course, the new R1 wheel base is 1/3 of an inch longer than last years Honda, whatever I just hope the bike he rides will be as fast top speed as JMs bike was this year.

Not sure about that one, It's 20mm off the Bmw, but longer than the Honda so it's in between the lot by the looks of it in terms of size, as for handling matters it will be down to the rake, trail and offset that will be the factor that makes or breaks it on the handling and stability front. Power was there week link on this years bike more than a handling one. Interestingly when Cam Donald rode Caparossi's gp bike around some years back he said it bounced along the bumps really well and would make a great street race bike so we shall wait and see on that one. If the bike he gets is fast handles proper he will be on it like a cat on a hot tin roof, he's numero uno at the mo and will get something tasty to ride for sure.

spannerman I got them from the technical specifications have a google

2015 hp4 wheelbase 56 "
2015 cbr 1000rr wheelbase 55.5"
2015 zx10r wheelbase 56.1"
2015 r1 wheelbase 55.9
2015 r1 m wheelbase 55.3"

Whatever he rides, I hope he does the manufacturer the courtesy of not wearing another manufacturer's jacket at official functions. He may keep his ride for a second year.

(29-11-2014, 05:00 PM)Max Power Wrote: Whatever he rides, I hope he does the manufacturer the courtesy of not wearing another manufacturer's jacket at official functions. He may keep his ride for a second year.

oh so that lost him the ride??fill us in?

Has any reason been given/offered as to Michael's actual reaon for looking elsewhere. I wouldn't have thought and would like to think he was not a cheque book chaser.

(30-11-2014, 07:48 PM)Rednine Wrote: Has any reason been given/offered as to Michael's actual reaon for looking elsewhere. I wouldn't have thought and would like to think he was not a cheque book chaser.

I heard that the jacket incident was the last straw.

(30-11-2014, 09:16 PM)Max Power Wrote:

(30-11-2014, 07:48 PM)Rednine Wrote: Has any reason been given/offered as to Michael's actual reaon for looking elsewhere. I wouldn't have thought and would like to think he was not a cheque book chaser.

I heard that the jacket incident was the last straw.

id highly doubt that

(29-11-2014, 03:11 AM)Superbike Wrote: Not sure about that one, It's 20mm off the Bmw, but longer than the Honda so it's in between the lot by the looks of it in terms of size, as for handling matters it will be down to the rake, trail and offset that will be the factor that makes or breaks it on the handling and stability front. Power was there week link on this years bike more than a handling one. Interestingly when Cam Donald rode Caparossi's gp bike around some years back he said it bounced along the bumps really well and would make a great street race bike so we shall wait and see on that one. If the bike he gets is fast handles proper he will be on it like a cat on a hot tin roof, he's numero uno at the mo and will get something tasty to ride for sure.

Geometry can be tweaked, even if unofficially - I believe the V&M R1s DJ rode in '99 had seen some time in a frame alignment jig. Wheelbase can be lengthened easily enough with a couple of links in the chain can it not?

What was the jacket incident?? Sounds really short sighted ....... he's brilliant no doubt about it, but for the BMW that would have been a very insulting slap in the face.