Michael Dunlop believes he is now too old to compete seriously in the UK Superbike Championship, though he admits he once considered giving the short circuit series a try. Throughout his career, Dunlop has occasionally raced in short circuit events, including the SuperSport class in BSB last year, but unlike many of his road racing peers such as Peter Hickman, Davy Todd, and Dean Harrison, he has never fully committed to a BSB campaign, instead prioritizing road racing.
The 33-time Man TT winner feels that starting a serious BSB effort at this stage in his career is unlikely, even though he believes he could still put in a solid performance. Speaking to BBC SportsNI, Dunlop said, “It’s too long in the teeth right now,” when asked about his chances in BSB and admitted, “Did you miss that boat? Definitely.”
He acknowledged he never actively pursued a BSB career but hinted he might have wanted to give it a go at some point. “Have I been looking for it? Probably not. Maybe I wanted to take a bit of shot of it,” he said. “As time goes by, there’s no reason to spend time doing BSB and put in half a decent fee.”
This year, Dunlop continues to thrive on the road racing scene, securing victories at events like the Northwest 200, the TT, and Tandragee 100.
Fan Take: Dunlop’s focus on road racing over BSB highlights the distinct paths riders can take and the enduring prestige of road racing events. His success on the roads continues to inspire fans and reinforces the unique appeal of this challenging and historic form of motorcycle racing.
