Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop has stepped in with a bike and infrastructure to help youngster Carl Phillips’ big for Pirelli National Superstock glory.

Phillips, from Lisburn, was runner-up in the 2016 600cc stock series but was finding it tough to raise the £30,000 required to buy into a team for bigger class so Dunlop has helped out and will also manage the team.

“I just see Carl a bit like myself in many ways and I am only too glad to give him a helping hand,” he said.