IOM TT 2015

#22 said:

Do you want live or are you happy to watch them afterwards?

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AntG said:

If we'd met sooner I'd have taken you over

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Michael Dunlop has dramatically announced his split from Milwaukee Yamaha for this year's Isle of Man TT and will make a last-minute switch to BMW in the Superbike and Senior TT races under the Buildbase BMW banner.

After a disappointing North West 200 on the new Yamaha R1 the 11-time TT winner has ditched the Shaun Muir squad in favour for Stuart Hicken's BMW team.

The decision was made after just three laps of TT practice when Dunlop could only manage a 124.519mph lap compared to outright TT lap record holder Bruce Anstey's 128.641mph on the Valvoline Padgett's Honda machine.

Dunlop said he was 'genuinely sorry' after making the decision but said he had ran out of time to make the machine competitive ahead of Saturday's Superbike race.

"I would like to thank Milwaukee Yamaha for their support in bringing me into their team and I am genuinely sorry to be making this decision," he said.

"Unfortunately I don't think there is enough time left with the sessions we've already lost at the TT to be truly competitive and get the bike to the level we need to in order to win races here."

A team statement released by Milwaukee Yamaha said Dunlop had been released from his contract with immediate effect.

"Milwaukee Yamaha its staff and sponsors have worked tirelessly to prepare a race winning package especially with the introduction of the new R1M," the statement read.

"The development of the bike is advancing well testament to results on the short circuit worldwide.

"Despite having all the ingredients for TT success, rider, bike and team, Michael has taken the decision not to continue with the programme and for that reason we have released him from his contract.

"Milwaukee Yamaha will continue to focus on its MCE British Superbike Championship campaign."

Dunlop is excepted to run on his own Superstock BMW at the TT and a Honda CBR600RR in the Supersport.

The Ballymoney rider will have just two TT practice sessions to get the BMW S1000RR up to speed ahead of the Superbike events scheduled for this Saturday.

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The new R1s obvious lack of pace and a failure to rectify a mechanical issue that has seen oil being pumped into the airbox at high speed on both Dunlop’s Milwaukee machine and Dean Harrison’s MarTrain R1 appear to have been the final straws in bringing the deal to an end.

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