Dunlop 'as competitive as ever' after successful year

Michael Dunlop has won more races at the Isle of Man TT than any other rider

Michael Dunlop says he is as "competitive as ever" after a successful year at the Isle of Man TT and North West 200.

Dunlop ended his eight-year victory drought at the North West 200 when he won the opening Supersport race

He then added to that by winning in the Superstock and Superbike classes at the Northern Ireland road race.

The 36-year-old then won four races at the Isle of Man TT to extend his own winning record at the event to 33 victories.

"For the first time in a while I was really competitive at the North West, which was good," Dunlop told BBC Sport NI.

"To do a triple there and go to the TT and win another four it's been a great year.

"The main job for me is the North West and TT, and I think we've done a successful job there and proven we're still one of the top men."

Dunlop is racing at the Tandragee 100 national road race in county Armagh this weekend and heads to the national race in confident mood.

"When you are leaving those events [NW200 and TT] with most wins, I'm into the 30s now with the TT, it's good.

"To go into the 30s where nobody is is nice. I would like to keep pushing at it, I feel like I'm as competitive as ever.

"You just don't know with this game. At the end of the day, to get where I'm at is pretty cool and if I can add to it, I will.

"We had a really good year and I'm faster than I ever was, so there's no reason we can't go back and win more TTs and more North Wests."

Last year, Dunlop said national road racing was "finished" and the larger North West 200 and Isle of Man TT events would "thrive regardless".

Ahead of his appearance at the Trandragee 100, which came through an invitation from one of his sponsors, Dunlop added that national road racing in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland "are in a bad place" and said it was "nice" to help the race organisers out with his appearance.

The top road racers dovetail their Isle of Man and North West 200 commitments by participating in the British Superbike Championship, and do not usually ride at national road races.

"The North West 200 has thrived this year, the TT has thrived. The events that are doing things right are thriving.

"Yes, it's harder for these smaller events. I know why some of them are doing some stuff wrong, but it's hard to say it's fallen when you go to the North West this year.

"The amount of people was mental. It's the exact same with the TT.

"It's hard to say people aren't supporting it when you see the likes of those events and they are absolutely booming."

Dunlop says he will race at the Southern 100, Classic TT and look at racing at a round or two of the British Superbike Championship.

When asked if he would even race in British Superbikes full-time, he said he would like to but feels he's "too long in the tooth now".

It's hard. Did we miss that boat? Without a doubt. But did I ever go looking for it? Probably not, and I probably would have liked to have had a bit of a shot at it.

"With time I could fall into it, there's no reason that if we spent a bit of time doing BSB I could put in a half decent charge at it."