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Michael Dunlop “a bit behind the times” with TT preparation on Ducati Superbike
Michael Dunlop says he’s got less time to prepare the Ducati V4 for the Isle of Man TT than he would have liked
Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop says he is “a little bit behind the times” to prepare his new Ducati V4 Panigale for the 2026 roads season due to the late arrival of the bike.
The 33-time TT winner grabbed headlines earlier this week when he announced that he will be bringing Ducati to the big bike classes in 2026 on the roads.
Dunlop will have Ducati machinery in the Supersport class, with which he won both races at the TT last year, and swaps BMW for the Italian brand’s V4 Panigale in the big bike races.
He began testing on the V4 this week at Oulton Park alongside the British Superbike field, but admits he is dealing with “a completely different beast of an animal” to what he was used to before.
“Everything’s good,” he told BBC Northern Ireland.
“I feel good. This here’s just a completely different beast of an animal to what I’m used to.
“And I think that anybody who hasn’t ridden a Ducati is finding that.
“I was talking to Kyle [Ryde] earlier, he loves his, but he just says it’s a complete different game plan.
“He just said he was fortunate enough he was in Spain riding a stock bike of one of them so he could learn the difference.”
Dunlop’s Superbike deal came together late last year, too, with the TT’s all-time leader in race wins left with just two weeks before the North West 200.
“When you get something like this, the level changes,” he added.
“It’s a very technical bike and there’s a lot of stuff going on.
“Hopefully, we can push to get ourselves in a good place.
“It’s one of those where you were hoping this project would be a lot earlier, but it hasn’t so we’re left a little bit behind the times.
“Hopefully it doesn’t take us too long to get in a good, comfortable place.”
Asked if he relishes a challenge, Dunlop replied: “Yeah, well I seem to have no choice.
“We know the project, the bike’s good. That’s a fact. The bike has got stacks of potential.
“So, I’m looking forward to getting it [on track] and hopefully at the North West we can make it fit into place.”
Dunlop’s wins last year on the V2 marked the first for Ducati at the TT in 30 years, while the brand hasn’t had big bike race podiums since 2003.
He was due to ride the V4 Panigale at the TT in 2022, before the deal with PBM fell through at the 11th hour.
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Michael Dunlop says he’s got less time to prepare the Ducati V4 for the Isle of Man TT than he would have liked
Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop says he is “a little bit behind the times” to prepare his new Ducati V4 Panigale for the 2026 roads season due to the late arrival of the bike.
The 33-time TT winner grabbed headlines earlier this week when he announced that he will be bringing Ducati to the big bike classes in 2026 on the roads.
Dunlop will have Ducati machinery in the Supersport class, with which he won both races at the TT last year, and swaps BMW for the Italian brand’s V4 Panigale in the big bike races.
He began testing on the V4 this week at Oulton Park alongside the British Superbike field, but admits he is dealing with “a completely different beast of an animal” to what he was used to before.
“Everything’s good,” he told BBC Northern Ireland.
“I feel good. This here’s just a completely different beast of an animal to what I’m used to.
“And I think that anybody who hasn’t ridden a Ducati is finding that.
“I was talking to Kyle [Ryde] earlier, he loves his, but he just says it’s a complete different game plan.
“He just said he was fortunate enough he was in Spain riding a stock bike of one of them so he could learn the difference.”
Dunlop’s Superbike deal came together late last year, too, with the TT’s all-time leader in race wins left with just two weeks before the North West 200.
“When you get something like this, the level changes,” he added.
“It’s a very technical bike and there’s a lot of stuff going on.
“Hopefully, we can push to get ourselves in a good place.
“It’s one of those where you were hoping this project would be a lot earlier, but it hasn’t so we’re left a little bit behind the times.
“Hopefully it doesn’t take us too long to get in a good, comfortable place.”
Asked if he relishes a challenge, Dunlop replied: “Yeah, well I seem to have no choice.
“We know the project, the bike’s good. That’s a fact. The bike has got stacks of potential.
“So, I’m looking forward to getting it [on track] and hopefully at the North West we can make it fit into place.”
Dunlop’s wins last year on the V2 marked the first for Ducati at the TT in 30 years, while the brand hasn’t had big bike race podiums since 2003.
He was due to ride the V4 Panigale at the TT in 2022, before the deal with PBM fell through at the 11th hour.
Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop says he is “a little bit behind the times” to prepare his new Ducati V4 Panigale for the 2026 roads season due to the late arrival of the bike.
The 33-time TT winner grabbed headlines earlier this week when he announced that he will be bringing Ducati to the big bike classes in 2026 on the roads.
Dunlop will have Ducati machinery in the Supersport class, with which he won both races at the TT last year, and swaps BMW for the Italian brand’s V4 Panigale in the big bike races.
He began testing on the V4 this week at Oulton Park alongside the British Superbike field, but admits he is dealing with “a completely different beast of an animal” to what he was used to before.
“Everything’s good,” he told BBC Northern Ireland.
“I feel good. This here’s just a completely different beast of an animal to what I’m used to.
“And I think that anybody who hasn’t ridden a Ducati is finding that.
“I was talking to Kyle [Ryde] earlier, he loves his, but he just says it’s a complete different game plan.
“He just said he was fortunate enough he was in Spain riding a stock bike of one of them so he could learn the difference.”
Dunlop’s Superbike deal came together late last year, too, with the TT’s all-time leader in race wins left with just two weeks before the North West 200.
“When you get something like this, the level changes,” he added.
“It’s a very technical bike and there’s a lot of stuff going on.
“Hopefully, we can push to get ourselves in a good place.
“It’s one of those where you were hoping this project would be a lot earlier, but it hasn’t so we’re left a little bit behind the times.
“Hopefully it doesn’t take us too long to get in a good, comfortable place.”
Asked if he relishes a challenge, Dunlop replied: “Yeah, well I seem to have no choice.
“We know the project, the bike’s good. That’s a fact. The bike has got stacks of potential.
“So, I’m looking forward to getting it [on track] and hopefully at the North West we can make it fit into place.”
Dunlop’s wins last year on the V2 marked the first for Ducati at the TT in 30 years, while the brand hasn’t had big bike race podiums since 2003.
He was due to ride the V4 Panigale at the TT in 2022, before the deal with PBM fell through at the 11th hour.
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