2014 North West 200 Results
Michael Dunlop has always been a huge threat on the international road-racing scene, but he became more of a threat after winning four of five solo Isle of Man TT races in 2013.
The 2013 TT performance was completed on Honda machinery. But due to some contract issues, the Northern Irishman – and nephew of the legendary Joey Dunlop – Dunlop signed with BMW.
The 25-year old had his debut on the BMW S1000RR at the Brands Hatch round of British Superbike, where he crashed out, but the North West 200 was his first international road race. He entered both the North West 200 Superbike and Superstock races with BMW Motorrad / Hawk Racing Superbike S1000RR machinery.
And his results? Dunlop won the second Superstock race and the main-feature Superbike race. He also took two pole positions, two podium finishes, two lap records, and the prestigious “Robert Dunlop Man of the Meeting” trophy, named in honor of his racing-legend father.
He began the North West 200 by securing both he Superstock and Superbike pole positions. En route to the Superbike pole, he shattered the class record
In the first Supersport race, the Ballymoney S1000RR pilot took third behind Alastair Seeley (Kawasaki) and winner Michael Rutter (Rutter). Dunlop then finished second in the first Superbike race behind his brother William in a wet race.
Michael improved, taking the win at the second Superstock race, which was shortened due to a red flag. He was the first BMW rider to win a Superstock race at the North West 200 since Keith Amor in 2010.
In the second Superbike race, Dunlop broke the lap record as he headed to the front of the pack ahead of North West stars Guy Martin (Suzuki), Josh Brookes (Yamaha) and Alastair Seeley (Kawasaki). He then took the win ahead of Brookes and Seeley, respectively.
Due to his performances, he also won the “Robert Dunlop Man of the Meeting” trophy, which is awarded to a rider who goes above and beyond the expectations of the fans and organizers and personifies the spirit of the North West 200 event.
Following this international road-racing debut, the team reports it is now preparing for the Isle of Man TT, where “Michael Dunlop and the BMW S 1000 RR will once again be looking to break records and add a new chapter to the history books, as 2014 marks the 75th anniversary of BMW Motorrad’s victory at the TT with Georg Meier in 1939.”
Michael Dunlop & BMW Motorrad Hawk Racing results at the 2014 Vauxhall North West 200:
- Winner – Superbike Race Two (BMW S 1000 RR)
- Winner – Superstock Race Two (BMW S 1000 RR)
- Second – Superbike Race One (BMW S 1000 RR)
- Third – Superstock Race One (BMW S 1000 RR)
- “Robert Dunlop Man of the Meeting” Award
- Pole Position – Superstock Race One
- Pole Position – Superbike Race One
- Lap Record – Superbike (practice/qualifying)
North West 200 Quotes:
“I knew I could do it! In my head I was thinking “alright, let’s have it lads”. The BMW is just beautiful to ride, it’s class and I love it. These are brand new bikes, I only saw the Superbike for the first time this Tuesday! The bike is fantastic, the Metzeler tyres were working a dream at the end of that race and we were right on the pace off the line,” Michael Dunlop says.
“I’m so happy to have won two races – the main Superbike race was the one to win. Getting the ‘Robert Dunlop Man of the Meeting’ award is the icing on the cake. At the back of my mind I was thinking “it’s my dad’s trophy, I want that, I want it!” – and I got it. I can’t say enough good stuff about the motorbike and the team.”
“For our first run out, at an international road racing event, you could say we exceeded our expectations! Michael took wins in both Superbike and Superstock and a pole position in both to boot. He was very close to securing the double in the two classes, too,” says Stuart Hicken, BMW Motorrad/Hawk Racing Team Manager.
“It was an absolutely brilliant result for the team, everyone performed so well. Michael rode the wheels off those bikes and it was fantastic to watch. It’s a hugely significant weekend for Michael, for BMW Motorrad and for the team.”
“This has been a fantastic weekend for BMW Motorrad. Having so many BMW S 1000 RRs at the front in Superstock and Superbikes, not to mention 18 of 55 superbikes being RRs, shows just how competitive BMW Motorrad has become in road racing. Michael Dunlop rode incredibly well this weekend; he’s confident, he’s battled through the most challenging weather conditions imaginable and he came through a winner,” Lee Nicholls, Marketing Manager for BMW Motorrad UK.
“A big thank-you to Bertie Hauser and Kurt Böck from BMW Motorrad Motorsport for supporting us in taking the S 1000 RR into road racing and showing the world just how capable it is.”