MCN can reveal that 11 times TT winner Michael Dunlop is without a job for the 2015 season. The 25 year old, who had originally signed only a one year contract with the German manufacturer, is losing his BMW ride for the North West 200, TT and Ulster Grand Prix races after it was revealed that the Buildbase Hawk BMW squad he was contracted to this year is rumoured to be replaced by the Northern Ireland-based TAS team as BMW’s officially supported team for next year’s BSB and road racing campaigns.
The Ballymoney man, who won two North West 200 races and the Superbike, Superstock and Senior TTs on Stuart Hicken’s Buildbase Hawk prepared BMW S1000RRs in 2014, is expected to be replaced by the TAS team’s current road riders, Guy Martin and Michael’s elder brother, William.
The sensational shift to BMW would see TAS sever their longstanding relationship with the Suzuki factory, which is rumoured to focus its racing budget and resources on a return to the MotoGP series.
A full announcement on the TAS team’s 2015 plans is expected later in the week when it will be revealed whether the squad’s current sponsors, Tyco, are to continue their backing.