Three-times Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop has beaten a host of short circuit stars to be named Rider of the Year for 2012.
The accolade came just day after Dunlop was confirmed as a member of the Honda TT Legends team for the 2013 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy, when he will join a three-way Superbike campaign alongside John McGuinness and Michael Rutter.
He was selected ahead of Jack Kennedy, Keith Farmer, Jonathan Rea and Eugene Laverty for the 2012 title. The top 10 list in Road Racing Ireland’s 2012 Yearbook was rounded out by TT winner Ryan Farquhar, Michael Laverty, Lee Johnston, William Dunlop and Brian McCormack.
The Rider of the Year title is only open to Irish racers that have competed in World, British and Irish championships as well as international and national road races, and is based purely on improved performance during the previous 12 months.
Editor-in-chief Leslie Moore said:
“Michael Dunlop has raised his own crossbar, especially when, at the turn of the year, he had nothing and was contemplating on taking a year out.”
“The TT races, for all road racers, is their main goal and while, for some reason, none of the lap records were broken, of the three races that he competitively competed in, he set fastest laps in all three.”
In addition to Dunlop’s dominant victory in the second Monster Energy Supersport race at the 2012 TT, Mr Moore points to the 21 second lead Dunlop held in the opening Monster Energy Supersport race, before retiring with mechanical problems, and the last lap of the royal London 360 Superstock TT, when he was the only rider in the 129mph bracket and moved with 8 seconds of winner McGuinness despite having been down in 11th on the opening lap.
Mention is also made of his performances at the Ulster Grand Prix, Dundrod 150, Southern 100 and a number of national meetings he contested on his way to the Irish Road Race Superbike championship title.
Plus, there was his appearance at Scarborough’s International Gold Cup, where he ran well in the solo classes and made his sidecar debut, claiming a podium spot!
Mr Moore said:
“Such is his versatility, he won races this season on a Honda Superbike, Kawasaki Superstock, Yamaha Supersport and Suzuki Supersport machines.”
“Michael has worked hard all year with his own little team, and that hard work and his riding progress has now paid off, as he has been signed up by the Honda TT Legends team.”
“He always wants to be first, and that’s why he is my number one again, as he’s always improving.”