Michael Dunlop won the Senior TT in 2017 in his first year at Suzuki after a mechanical failure 

Michael Dunlop has revealed that he has split from the Hawk Racing team with whom he has enjoyed considerable success in the Superbike class at the Isle of Man TT in recent years.

The 28-year-old has been linked with various teams in recent months but tested the BSB outfit's Buildbase Suzuki in Spain earlier this month.

The Ballymoney rider says he is now "considering his options".

He will run MD Racing-backed bikes in the Superstock and Supersport classes.

"I'd like to clarify my current position regarding the upcoming road racing season," said Dunlop in a statement on his MD Racing Facebook page.

"I will be contesting the Superstock and Supersport classes at the Isle of Man TT and other events on my own MD Racing machines.

"I have not renewed my contract with Hawk Racing however. I am currently considering my options for the Superbike class and will confirm my plans when something is sorted.

"I'd like to thank Stuart and Steve for their support over recent years where we have shared a lot of success together."

TT lap record holder

Dunlop holds the outright lap record at the Isle of Man TT and his success in the Senior race in 2017 took his tally of victories at the event to 15.

PTR recently announced they would prepare a Supersport Honda for Dunlop at the international road races.

Dunlop is currently fourth on the all-time solo winners' list around the 37.7-mile Mountain Course, 11 behind his late uncle, and record holder, Joey Dunlop.

On top of his Senior TT success, Dunlop also claimed a win in the Supersport class at the TT, as well as taking the chequered flag at the North West 200 in the same class.

To cap off an impressive year, Dunlop claimed a hat-trick at the Armoy Road Races, as well as winning the Senior Race at the Southern 100.

In an unprecedented move, two of the Isle of Man TT’s greatest ever riders will join forces at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy with John McGuinness set to ride for Michael Dunlop’s MD Racing team in the two Monster Energy Supersport races.

McGuinness, who will be making his return to the TT this year after missing the 2017 meeting due to injuries sustained at the North West 200, will ride a similar CBR600RR Honda to team owner and rival Dunlop in the four-lap races, which will be held on Monday 4th and Wednesday 6th June.

Dunlop and McGuinness both have an excellent track record in the class with the Northern Irishman winning last year’s four lap race when Yamaha-mounted while 23-time winner McGuinness was victorious in both 2005 and 2006 for Yamaha and Honda respectively. Riding for the latter exclusively since 2006, the Morecambe Missile added further Supersport podiums to his haul in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013.

Since 2010 McGuinness has lined up in the colours of Padgetts Racing and, more recently the Jackson Racing team, finishing in the top five on no less than eight occasions with his most recent outing in 2016 seeing him finish fifth. His fastest lap in the Supersport category, 127.210mph, came in 2013 when he made his last visit to the podium in the class which makes him the fifth fastest rider ever to have lapped the Mountain Course on a 600cc machine.

Dunlop still holds the lap record for the class having lapped at 128.667mph on his way to a double victory in 2013 when riding the CBR600RR. MD Racing will be making their return to Honda for the two Monster Energy Supersport Races for the first time since 2015.

Speaking about the tie-up, John McGuinness commented:

“I’m excited to be riding Michael’s bike at this year’s TT.  It’s started off as a bit of a joke conversation between us both and has developed into him going off and building me a bike. I’m a big fan of Michael’s both as a rider but also for what he has done in terms of running his own teams and winning races out the back of his van against the factory teams over the years. The Dunlop name means so much to TT fans and as a fan myself, I can’t wait to represent that name at this year’s event. We’ve won 38 TT’s between us so together we know what needs to be done and I am sure we will be right at the sharp end.”

Two of the most successful riders in TT history will join forces at the 2018 meeting.

23-time winner John McGuinness will ride for 15-time victor Michael Dunlop's MD Racing team in the Supersport races.

The pair explain how the deal came about - starting with team owner Michael Dunlop:-