Racing on real public roads is thriving. The centre of the road-racing world is the Isle of Man, as it has been since 1907. The tradition survives strongly also in Ireland. Dunlop has always played a leading role.

The first Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) race in 1907 was won by Charlie Collier, on a Matchless, at 38.21 mph. He was using Dunlop tyres.

Last year, Dunlop riders took four wins in the 92nd running of the event after Honda TT Legends rider John McGuinness won the final TT of 2011. Dunlop took wins in the Superbike, Supersport 1, Superstock and Senior TT races in 2011 to bring the tally of wins using Dunlop tyres to 17 over the last four years – including the fastest ever lap of the tortuous mountain circuit at over 131mph.

Dunlop has been integral to all 100-plus years of TT history. As the bikes developed from the pedal-assisted machines of 1907 to today’s monstrously fast Superbikes, Dunlop played a leading role in developing the tyres that could cope with the extraordinary demands and stresses of long and ultra-fast public-road tracks with constantly changing surfaces, where top speeds approach 320 kph.

Among a cabinet of trophies, Dunlop’s TT landmarks include many historic firsts:

1957: first 100 mph lap – Bob McIntyre (Gilera)
1966: first 100 mph lap on production bike: tyre subsequently named TT100 and still in production as part of Dunlop’s “classic” range
2007: first 130 mph lap – John McGuinness (Honda)
2009: five TT wins from five races for Dunlop, and a new lap record of 131.6 mph.
2010: another five wins, and more lap records
2011: another four wins