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

Dunlop was speaking at the Irish Motorbik𒁃e Awards last week, where he was namꦇed as Irish Motorcyclist of the Year.

That accolade comes after a banner year for Dunlop, in which he matched and 𝔉surpassed 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 victไorie𒈔s, 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 Dun🅷lop was made all the more poignant by the tragedies that have befallen his f✨amily over the years.

Joey Dunlop was kill🎉ed in a crash during a race in Estonia just weeks after winning his 26th TT, while Robert Dunlop - Joey’s brother and Michael’s father - died at the 2008 North 🍌West 200.

Then in 2018, Michael’s older br✤other William Dunlop suffered a fatal accident a👍t the Skerries road race.

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

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

“I’ve been through s🍬o much that I don’t really give✅ a shit if you don’t like me.

“And I know that doesn’t suit everybody, 🍎but the people that know me know that I’m as straight as a die.

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

“ꦐI’m a rare character, but at the end ꩲof the day my family name is my biggest goal.”

Dunlop added: “There’s a lot of crooks in this job and whether they love me or hate me, 💮this year peo🍷ple have been really respectful.

“I’d like to thank everybody whoꦕ’🧜s clapped their hands because we’ve achieved something that’s stood for 24 years.

“My uncle Joey was a massive part of roa🌠d 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, though he offered some♉ clues as to what direction he might go in earlier this week.

At the Jerez World Sup🎉erbike test, Dunlop was spotted testing an Ducati Panigale V2, which he could well end up racing in the Supersport class at the TT.

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