Road-racing legends for Irish Motorbike and Scooter Show

Michael Dunlop

Organisers of the Carole Nash Irish Motorbike and Scooter Show have announced that motorcycle racing legends John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop will head a line-up of established and rising stars attending the Show at the RDS in Dublin over the weekend of the 27 February to 1 March.

Michael Dunlop will officially open the show on Friday afternoon, while John McGuinness will make his first ever public appearances in Dublin when he appears on the NorthWest200 stand to meet his fans on Saturday and Sunday.

Ruth Lemass, event organiser, stated: “Having the Dunlop family represented by Michael Dunlop at the show alongside one of the most successful ever road-racing and TT riders, John McGuinness, presents an amazing opportunity for visitors to get up close and find out what makes these men tick.”

John McGuinness wins the senior TT

The line up of Irish champions at the show will include Brian McCormack and Derek Sheils, both former Irish & Adelaide Superbike champions, former senior support road racing champion Alan Bonner, triple Manx GP winner Michael 'Micko' Sweeney and many, many more.

Ruth Lemass said: “As well as two living legends, we will have a host of Irish champions and rising stars at the show, many of whom will be joining Michael Dunlop and John McGuinness at the famous North West 200 and Isle of Man TT races later this year. Visitors to the show will be able to meet them and also see the incredible machines that they race.”

Michael Dunlop is the son of legendary racer Robert and has continued the family tradition by establishing himself as one of the top motorbike racers competing today. Michael will be available to chat to fans throughout Friday on the Yamaha stand and will also be interviewed by Steve Parrish about the racing season ahead and riding the incredible Yamaha YZF-R1 for Sean Muir’s Milwaukee Superbike team at the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT race this summer.

Michael’s new Yamaha is powered by a 4-cylinder 998cc engine and has a top speed of over 300kph. In a first for the industry, and in an effort to achieve a new level of pure sport performance, the new R1s’ engine features lightweight titanium components which give the new engine an extremely responsive and potent character at high revs.  Utilising Moto GP-derived electronic control technology, every byte of data coming in from multiple sensors in the engine and chassis will enable Michael Dunlop to get every last ounce of power and performance from the YZF-R1.

John McGuinness is considered to be one of the most versatile motorcycle racers around today, with an ability to ride all types and classes of motorcycles. His father was a road racer, and John’s journey began when he was got his first bike aged just three. At 18 he began to compete at the highest levels and has had multiple wins and set lap records at the Isle of Man TT, the North West 200 and the Ulster GP. He has raced all over the world – from Daytona in the USA, to Macau in the Far East.
Known as the ‘Morecambe Missile’, McGuinness is the second most successful TT rider of all time, after Joey Dunlop, with an incredible 21 victories to his name.

The Englishman will give an illustrated talk about his incredible 25-year career in motorbike racing, including his plans for the year ahead aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP after an injury-hit 2014 season and how he is determined to prove he’s still the man to beat at the Isle of Man TT and the North West 200.

The six-time NW200 winner will also be signing the latest edition of his new book at the show, John McGuinness: TT Legend which is for sale at the Show on the North West 200 stand.

Speaking about the Carole Nash Irish Motorbike and Scooter Show, John McGuiness said: “It will be great to be in Dublin and I can't wait to meet everyone at the show. I hope to have a wee bit of Guinness time for McGuinness too!”