Fans root for Michael Dunlop to match TT record

Mark O'Connor and Shane Gannon said they would celebrate if the record was broken

Race fans have said they are rooting for Michael Dunlop to match his uncle record number of wins at the Isle of Man's TT.

One more race win would see the Ballymoney rider equal the late Joey Dunlop's 26 wins on the Mountain Course, which culminates with the Senior TT race on 8 June.

Shane Gannon, from County Clare in Ireland, said it seemed as though the 35-year-old had "a lot more in the tank this year".

Fellow regular visitor to the event Mark O'Connor, from Galway in Ireland, said it would "mean everything" to Dunlop "after all that's happened in his life".

Sandy Wrigley, from Douglas, grew up close to the TT Grandstand

The friends said they would "have a pint of Guinness, and maybe a whiskey" to celebrate if he broke the record.

The 35-year-old is set to compete all eight solo races at the 2024 as he bids to increase his personal tally of 25 victories.

Sandy Wrigley, from Douglas, said Joey's nephew was "the only person" she and her husband wanted to to break the record.

"It's stood for so long, so for Michael to achieve it would just be incredible," she said.

The family was also backing Manx sidecar team Ryan and Callum Crowe to get their first win at the races, she added.

Paul McClorey (centre) travelled from Michigan with his wife Alison and son Andy

Tens of thousands of visitors have travelled to the island for the event, including Paul McClorey from Michigan in the United States.

The family had been booked to visit the 2020 event, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He said being trackside at the event was "something we've wanted to do for years and years".

"Being so close to the course, seeing the riders, the sounds and the smells is fantastic," he said.

"We've been to Moto GP before, but this is something else."