Michael O'Mara buys memoir of TT's Dunlop

Michael O’Mara Books is publishing Road Racer: It’s In My Blood by "wild man of TT" Michael Dunlop.

Clare Tillyer, publisher of Michael O’Mara Books, acquired world rights to the book from David Riding at MBA Literary Agents Ltd, to publish in hardback in spring 2017, priced £20.  

Dunlop is a Northern Irish professional motorcycle racer, known for his aggressive style and currently solo machine lap record holder for the Snaefell Mountain Course. He is also part of a motorcycle-racing “dynasty”. In the book he will talk in depth about his family story and how got involved in "the family business", undeterred by the death of his uncle, former World Champion Joey Dunlop, during a competition in Estonia in 2000, that was followed just eight years later by the death of his father, Robert Dunlop, at the North West 200.

Tillyer said: "Watching Michael race leaves you on the very edge of your seat, holding your breath until the final lap is finished and I have no doubt his autobiography will be exactly the same. His passion, determination and hunger to ride to the very limits of what’s possible is something that inspires and enthralls his fans, while making us all wonder just how he finds the nerve to keep doing it. As part of racing royalty, Michael's is a very unique story that provides a depth to his racing career that is simply unmatched. This is an amazing project and I am thrilled to be working with Michael."

Dunlop said: "I’ve been asked by a number of publishers in the past few years to write a book and I’ve always held back. To me there’s no point in talking about anything other than winning. But with the success comes the difficult times and every obstacle is a part of my journey to the top step. In a sport often defined by controversy, I don’t risk my life to race, I risk my life to win. I’m now pleased to have everything in place and to have the right team behind me - it’s time to tell my story."