Dunlop and Cummins confirmed for Armoy showdown later this month

Milwaukee Yamaha confirms Dunlop's entry for Armoy Road Races as Dunlop dynasty pays Rathlin Island a visit. William Dunlop is pictured with cousins Paul Robinson and Sam Dunlop and Clerk of the Armoy Course Bill Kennedy at one of the remote lighthouses. No motorbikes are allowed on Rathlin so special permission had to be sought before several hours were spent around the beautiful island. All three cousins will race in the Armoy Road Races at the end of the month, 26th and 27th July in Armoy.

Shaun Muir’s team opted not to compete at the Southern 100 at Billown this week with the Milwaukee Superbike machines, but Dunlop will ride the YZF-R1 at Walderstown in Co Westmeath this weekend before he is joined by Manxman Cummins at Armoy.

The pair are also entered in the Supersport class at the ‘Race of Legends’, with Dunlop competing on Chris Dowd’s Yamaha R6.

Dunlop – a winner in the Supersport class at Skerries on Saturday – took part in an exclusive photo-shoot recently on Rathlin Island.

Normally, motorcycles are not permitted on the picturesque island but special permission was granted to enable Dunlop to transport his 125cc Delaney Honda to Rathlin along with his cousins Sam Dunlop and Paul Robinson plus Armoy clerk of the course, Bill Kennedy.

“I’m delighted to back at Armoy this year. It’s my local road racing course so it holds that something special for me plus it’s a great circuit,” said Dunlop.

“The club works extremely hard in every aspect of the race, particularly in the preparations and it’s that attention to detail that makes the few days at Armoy pretty good.

“The fact they’ve managed to televise it is also good – sponsors like it. It goes a long way in attracting road racers and their sponsors.”

Race boss Kennedy said he was delighted to have Milwaukee Yamaha star Dunlop on the grid.

“William has been a great supporter of the Armoy road races having competed just about every year.

“ The trip to Rathlin was a great opportunity for me to catch up with William and it was great to see him in fine form,” said Kennedy.

“No bikes are allowed on Rathlin so we had to get special permission but travelling across on the Rathlin Ferry was a great way to be able to see another part of our beautiful country – the pictures speak for themselves.”

Robinson, who was ruled out of the 125cc race at Skerries after slipping off on the warm-up lap, was absent from the inaugural race in 2009 but has returned every year since.

“I missed the first Armoy Road Race in 2009 but I’ve raced at each one ever since. Being local just adds that bit of extra pressure for me but that’s all my own doing,” he said.

“The club is an excellent wee club – they do more than most national road races and the prize money is a little better too.”