The McAdoo Racing team head to Portrush for the 2012 North West 200 in great form after Michael Dunlop’s terrific performances in the opening road races of the season.

The season-opening Cookstown 100 brought three podium finishes from three starts which was extremely promising considering Michael hadn’t raced a bike since the Macau GP in November. His best result on the day was runner-up in the feature Cookstown 100 race on the Hunts/McAdoo Honda Fireblade Superbike. Valuable track time and bike set-up were needed with so little experience on the 2012 bikes so Michael was really looking forward to the Tandragee 100 - a track he had mastered in the past.

Friday practice was brief due to poor weather conditions so the opening race at Tandragee - the Superbike race - was a bit of a gamble set-up wise, particularly suspension, gearing and which compound of Dunlop tyres to go for. Michael chased eventual race winner Ryan Farquhar hard but couldn’t make the pass. Lessons were learned though and changes were made for the main Superbike race of the day - the Tandragee 100 race.

First up though, Michael grabbed his first win of the season in the Supersport 600 race. Once again, Ryan Farquhar got the holeshot and led for the first few laps. However Michael hounded him and this time made the pass with a lap and a half to go. He held the lead to the flag for the win on the McAdoo Racing/Ard na Mara Suzuki 600.

Final race of the day - the Tandragee 100 Race - followed a similar pattern with Ryan leading most of the race. This time though, Michael had the set-up closer to how he likes it and made the pass on the final lap to take the win on the Hunts/McAdoo Honda Fireblade. A terrific double for Michael and the team which really whets the appetite for the North West 200.

The team are frantically preparing the McAdoo Racing/Gortreagh Printing Kawasaki ER-6 for the Supertwins race but time could be against us in that class. The North West will also see Michael make his debut on the McAdoo Racing/Gortreagh Printing Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock bike which after Michael’s success in this class in 2011 - winning the TT and Ulster GP races - is an exciting prospect indeed.


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