P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Michael Dunlop has admitted that his lack of preparation time for the 2026 Isle of Man TT on the Honda machinery he’s racing in the superbike class has so far hurt him, after a disappointing run to third in the opening race of the week.
Michael Dunlop acknowledged that his limited preparation time for the 2026 Isle of Man TT on the Honda superbike has negatively impacted his performance, resulting in a third-place finish in the first race.
Dean Harrison dominated the race, with Peter Hickman claiming victory after a close battle with Dunlop for second place.
Dunlop, who had initially planned to race a Ducati V4 Panigale, was forced to switch to the Honda at the last minute and expressed frustration with not having enough time to optimize the bike’s setup.
Despite the challenges, Dunlop remains determined to improve and is looking forward to future races on smaller bikes where he believes he has a better chance of success.
He acknowledged the need to address the issues affecting his performance and expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back throughout the remainder of the competition.
