33-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours List

Michael Dunlop has been awarded an MBE for services to motorcycle racing in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025.

The double MCN Rider of the Year is the most successful-ever competitor at the Isle of Man TT, having taken 33 wins around the 37.73-mile Mountain course.

He overtook his uncle Joey Dunlop’s record of 26 wins in 2024 – a feat that stood for 24 years. In 2025, he went on to also claim the most podium finishes at the event by a single rider – taking over from John McGuinness who has stood on the rostrum 47 times.

This year’s TT fortnight also saw Michael Dunlop take victory for his seventh manufacturer, winning the Supersport races aboard a Ducati Panigale V2 and giving the Italian brand their first wins at the event since 1995.

Alongside these wins, he also continued his dominance in the Supertwin class – winning both events aboard his MD Racing Paton and setting a new category lap record of 123.056mph on the final lap of the second race.

“I’ve spent years pushing through every high and low life could throw at me,” Dunlop said in a post on social media. “No matter the challenge, I’ve always given everything 100% on and off the track. To now be recognised in this way is a privilege beyond words.

“From the beginning, I’ve driven myself to become the best rider I can be, with the goal of becoming the greatest at the TT. At the same time, I’ve always carried the pride of keeping the Dunlop name at the top of the sport.”

Dunlop took his first-ever road race win in 2006, riding in the 125cc class at the Bush Road Races in Northern Ireland. He’s now taken victory 124 times in Irish competitions, adding to his tally this year with two first place finishes at the Cookstown 100, and three wins at the North West 200 in early May.

He made his TT debut as an 18-year-old in 2007, with his first win coming in the second Supersport race of 2009 alongside podiums in the 250 class.

His recognition in the Birthday Honours List sees the Ballymoney rider follow in the footsteps of his uncle Joey Dunlop, who received an MBE in 1986 for his contribution to motorcycle racing, before being presented with an OBE 10-years-later for his humanitarian work.

Other motorcycle racers to also receive the honour previously also include 23-time TT winner John McGuinness, who was awarded an MBE as part of the New Year’s Honours List in 2021.

Back in 2017, fellow Northern Irish rider, Jonathan Rea was also presented with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, before going on to receive an OBE in 2022 after taking an unmatched sixth World Superbike crown.

Other past recipients of an MBE also include four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty, plus sidecar stars Steve Webster, and Maria Costello.