Isle of Man TT 2019: Michael Dunlop opens up on ‘struggles’ since brother William’s death after 19th win

Dunlop took victory in Thursday’s Bennetts Lightweight TT to move to within seven wins of uncle Joey’s all-time record, but he spoke of how his brother’s fatal accident last July has impacted on his mentality

Michael Dunlop has spoken of his “struggles” since the death of his brother William last year, after claiming his 19th victory at the Isle of Man TT.

Dunlop overcame a tricky week to win the Bennetts Lightweight TT after emerging triumphant from a two-lap battle with Jamie Coward with a margin of just 1.299s on his SC Corse Paton, moving him to within seven victories of his uncle Joey Dunlop’s all-time record of 26 TT wins.

But asked after the race how he has coped with events over the last 12 months, Dunlop gave a very honest and open answer.

His brother William Dunlop died at the age of 32 following a crash at the Skerries 100 in Dublin last July, becoming the third member of the Dunlop family to lose their life road racing after their father, Robert, and uncle Joey died due to crashes in 2008 and 2000 respectively.

Dunlop also suffered a crash before the TT that left him with a wrist injury which has hampered him during the week, resulting in the Ballymoney rider being unusually off the pace in the big bike races.

“I can't use my past as a challenge point, but I've struggled,” Dunlop said on Thursday when asked how difficult the events of the past year have been on him. “We got back into this week, it's been a tough week, [I've had] the injury. I've found it hard to come back racing to be honest, I've struggled with it.

“I didn't think it would happen [winning], I thought we'd struggle again today.”

The 30-year-old took the 50th TT victory for the Dunlop family on Thursday, but he admitted that in his opinion he was not living up to the reputation of the name, such is the prestige that the Dunlop family hold on the Isle of Man.

“It's been a bit tough this week, trying to carry the name and I haven't been doing it justice this week which is a sad affair,” he added. “We're always pretty good around here, it's nice to put something back up there for the name. My results this week haven't shown a patch. In my opinion, you maybe lose the size of your balls but you don't lose the size of your talent.

Michael Dunlop has opened up on his brother William's death last year (www.iomttraces.com)

“I've lost something this week, but slowly but surely we've been getting it back again. I think the lack of practice hasn't helped me dramatically. There's nothing we can do about that, but slowly but surely we're coming back.”

Dunlop will attempt to win his third Senior TT on Friday following wins in 2016 and 2017, but he admitted that the prospect of standing on the top step of the podium was unlikely on the Tyco BMW as his wrist was struggling to hold up to the extra demands caused by the 1000cc superbike.

Dunlop took his 19th Isle of Man TT victory in the Lightweight race (www.iomttraces.com)

“We'll have a push and see,” Dunlop added, having finished sixth in Monday’s RST Superbike race. “I'm just struggling to put a couple of laps together on the big bike, I'm a wee bit tender.

“But we'll push and definitely have a go tomorrow. We're getting a wee bit faster now.”