Fifteen time TT Race winner Michael Dunlop will compete alongside Italian Stefano Bonetti on the Factory S1-R Lightweight Paton at the 2018 Isle of Man TT Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

For Dunlop, it will be only his third outing in the Lightweight race having only previously competed in the inaugural event of 2012 and 2017. Riding Kawasaki’s on both occasions, the first year saw him finish in an unfamiliar 13th but despite concentrating on setting up the new GSXR1000 Suzuki for the Superbike Races last year saw him be far more competitive.

“It will be a real honour to represent the Paton factory at this year’s TT.  I’ve managed to win races for five different manufacturers at the TT and I will be doing everything I can to make it six," said Dunlop.

"I’m really looking forward to having a proper go at the Lightweight TT this year. It’s already looking like a really competitive race with the strongest field the race has had to date and if I’m on the top step at the end of the race I will have earned it.”