William Dunlop to ride Yamaha Supersport machine in 2015

William Dunlop has 11 international road race wins to his name

Ballymoney road racer William Dunlop will ride Yamaha machinery in the Supersport class at this year's international and national road races.

Dunlop has yet to win a 600cc race at the Isle of Man TT, but boasts one success in the class at the North West 200 and three at the Ulster Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old will receive backing from former sponsor Chris Dowd and Ivan Curran throughout the season.

Dunlop will ride for the Tyco BMW team in the Superbike and Supertsock races.

The elder of the Dunlop racing brothers has indicated that he intends to take in most of the Irish national meetings, in addition to the North West, TT and Ulster GP.

He claimed his first international road race win on a four-stroke machine on a CD Racing-prepared R6 Yamaha at Dundrod in 2009, setting a new lap record in the process.

His Supersport Yamahas are being prepared in Germany by former Yamaha World Superbike engineer Marcus Eschenbacher.

William has been a rostrum finished in the class at the TT and has ridden Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki 600cc bikes in recent years.