TT 2016: Dunlop takes second despite engine drama

Michael Dunlop took a strong second place in yesterday’s second Supersport race at the Isle of Man TT despite fighting against all odds to prepare a new engine in time.

The Ballymoney man was sensationally excluded from Monday’s opening 600 race result after it was found the cam buckets in his engine, supplied by Mar-Train Racing, were illegally coated. Dunlop and his team were unaware of this and Mar-Train have since apologised.

MD Racing were left with no choice but to source another engine, which came from Robin Appleyard, but due to logistical constraints they had to charter a private jet to transport the engine to the Island late on Tuesday night.

Having finished second in the race prior to his disqualification, Dunlop went out on a mission in Wednesday’s second outing but was unable to challenge the dominant Ian Hutchinson.

“After being thrown out of the first race for cheating with an engine we didn’t know much about, Robin Appleyard gave us an engine and two friends of the team got a private jet over with the new motor.

“As we had to get two pilots for the plane, the engine didn’t come in until late on Friday night. We had problems with the bike in the race but none of that equates to the pain they went through last night to have it ready. They had the dyno running about 11pm and I didn’t get to bed until half four with the rest of the team up until half five.”