13-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop is set to race the all-new GSX-R1000 this season after signing for the Bennetts Suzuki team.
Dunlop will race the new machine at the major international road races and the Northern Irishman will begin his season by lining up in the opening round of the MCE British Superbike Championship at Donington Park next month.
The 2016 Superbike and Senior TT winner will get his first ride on the new GSX-R1000 he will race this season at a shakedown test at the team’s Mallory Park base today [Wednesday], before heading to Spain for tests at Cartagena and Almeria.
Dunlop said: "I was chatting with Steve [Hicken - team manager] for a while, and obviously we’ve worked together a lot before. With the new bike coming it’s been a bit different and we had to gather up exactly what was happening. We just needed to see what was going to be able to happen and to see where we were both going to be at this time.
“I know Steve and I know Stuart though, as people, and I know they can take a new bike and get it right. This is a good team and there’s a good link with Yoshimura. It’s going to be interesting this year. I’ve been helping the team build my own bikes and it’ll be good to have a run around at Mallory for a shakedown before we go to Spain.”
Bennetts Suzuki Team Manager Steve Hicken commented: "We've known Michael for a long time and always wanted to work with him again this year, so we're really pleased we've been able to put a deal together. We've made good progress already with the development of the new GSX-R1000, and we know the potential is there with the bike."
The Bennetts Suzuki team will head to Cartagena for the first of two pre-season tests, before the first official MCE BSB test at Donington Park on March 22.
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