Michael Dunlop will campaign the all-new GSX-R1000 on the roads this year after signing to ride for the Bennetts Suzuki squad.

Dunlop has a history with the team after winning a stack of TTs with them on BMW machinery and will make his debut at the 2017 Vauxhall North West 200 before moving on to the Island.

The 2016 Superbike and Senior TT winner and current out-right lap-record holder will get his first ride on the new GSX-R1000 he will race this season at a shakedown test at the team’s Mallory Park base today [Wednesday], before heading to Spain for tests at Cartagena and Almeria.

“I was chatting with Steve Hicken for a while, and obviously we’ve worked together a lot before. With the new bike coming it’s been a bit different and we had to gather up exactly what was happening. We just needed to see what was going to be able to happen and to see where we were both going to be at this time,” said Dunlop.

“I know Steve and I know Stuart though, as people, and I know they can take a new bike and get it right. This is a good team and there’s a good link with Yoshimura. It’s going to be interesting this year. I’ve been helping the team build my own bikes and it’ll be good to have a run around at Mallory for a shakedown before we go to Spain.”