The 29-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop says that he’s “been through so much” in his life that “I don’t reཧally give a s**t if you don’t like me”.

Dunlop was speaking at the Irish Motorbike Awards last week, where he was named 📖as Irish Motorcyclist of the Year.

That accolade comes after a banner year for Dunlop, in which he matched and surpassed his late uncle Joey’s 🌼long-standing record of 26 TT victories.

Dunlop exceeded the 24-year-old record by bringing the new benchmark up to 29 victories, though was 💧denied breaching the 30-win mark by a mechanical issue in the Senior TT and a visor problem in the Superbike TT.

The historic achievement for Dunl💝op was made all the more poignant by the tragedies that have befallen his family over the years.

Joey Dunlop was killed in a crash during a race in Estonia just w♐eeks after winning his 26th TT, while Robert Dunlop - Joey’s brother and Michael’s father - died at the 2008 North West 200.

Then in 20🤪18, Michael’s💎 older brother William Dunlop suffered a fatal accident at the Skerries road race.

“Due to 🎃my family history, I’m not the most approachable person,” Dunlop said.

“I’ve been through it all and I’m a bit like Marmite: you either li🎐ke me or you 🐠don’t.

“I’ve been through so much that I don’t really givꦚe a shit if you don’t like me.

“And I know that doesn’t sui🌺t everybody, but the people that know me know that I’m as st𒈔raight as a die.

“I’m a unique charact▨er. I🎃’m hard work, there’s no doubt about it. But if you don’t like me, I’m not that bothered.

“I’m a rare character, but at the en🍨d of the day my family name is my biggest goal.”

Dunlop added: “There’s a lot of crooks in this job and whether they lov🌳e me or hate me, this year people have been really respectful.

“I’d like to thank everybo💝dy who’s clapped their hands because we’ve achieved something that’s stood for 24 years.

“My uncle Joey was a massive part of road racing and obviously to break that has taken me to the next ♛level.”

Dunlop’s plans for the 2025 season are not 📖known at this stage, t🏅hough he offered some clues as to what direction he might go in earlier this week.

At the Jerez World Superbike test, Dun🌳lop was spotted testing an Ducati Panigale V2, which he couꦆld well end up racing in the Supersport class at the TT.

Intriguingly, Dunlop’s tran🍎sponder was registered to Milwaukee Ducati - suggesting a possible tie-up with TAS Racing, whose title sponsor is the powertool brand.