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I.O.M. TTDunlop’s TT LegendThe legendary Isle of Man TT road race enters its104th year in 2011 with possibly the mostcompetitive and open field of riders gunning forglory on the infamous Mountain.With history made in 2010 when Ian Hutchinsonswept to victory in all five races – the first time sucha feat has ever been achieved and all on Dunloptyres - the 31-year-old is not resting on his laurelsthis season by embarking on the challenge of anew team and manufacturer.Joining forces with crack British SuperbikeChampionship team Shaun Muir Racing – whichraces under the Swan banner - Hutchinson willdefend his titles aboard a Yamaha, themanufacturer celebrating its 50th anniversary at theTT this year.He faces stiff competition from a number of rivalseyeing up his TT crown, not least 15-time winnerJohn McGuinness, who forms part of the Honda TTLegends line-up alongside Keith Amor. McGuinness,who will also race in the World EnduranceChampionship, will take to the course with thecoveted ‘No.1’ plate fixed to the machine, beforejoining Padgetts Honda for the Supersport races.Having escaped serious injury in a fieryhigh-speed smash whilst chasing the lead in 2010,Guy Martin returns in 2011 for possibly his bestshot yet at that elusive victory with Relentless byTAS Suzuki.Elsewhere, former Relentless by TAS Suzukiriders Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald willcampaign Hondas this year, Anstey on the Padgettsmachine, while Donald will ride for Wilson Craig.Kawasaki will bring its new ZX-10R to the TT forthe first time with a strong line-up comprising RyanFarquhar, Adrian Archibald and Conor Cummins,another man making a spectacular comeback aftersustaining horrific injuries in a crash last year. Alsoracing will be Michael Dunlop, who will ride aKawasaki prepared by World Superbikecompetitors Paul Bird Motorsport.A handful of British Superbike riders will also bepresent, with Michael Rutter bolstering the Ducatiranks on his Rapid Bathams machine, while SimonAndrews will make his TT debut on a BMWS1000RR.Other notable newcomers include JamesStorrar, Dean Hegarty, Daniel Frear and DeanHarrison, while international ranks will be led byAmerican Macau Grand Prix podium winnerJeremy Toye, German Rico Penzkofer andPortuguese Luis Carreira.In all, 80 riders willcompete over theevent, with 51having alreadylapped at anaverage ofmore than120mphover theyears.In 2010 one rider, Ian Hutchinson, recorded wins inall five solo classes of the Isle of Man TT, all usingDunlop tyres.It was the second year in succession that all fivewins were scored with Dunlop rubber, but the firstever time that one rider – Honda-mounted ‘Hutch’– had achieved this feat.Dunlop’s history at the TT goes back to thevery beginning. The first Isle of Man TouristTrophy (TT) race in 1907 was won by CharlieCollier, on a Matchless, at 38.21 mph. He wasusing Dunlop tyres.Dunlop has been integral to all 100-plus years ofTT history. As the bikes developed from thepedal-assisted machines of 1907 to today’smonstrously fast Superbikes, Dunlop played aleading role in developing the tyres that could copewith the extraordinary demands and stresses oflong and ultra-fast public-road tracks withconstantly changing surfaces, where top speedsapproach 200 mph.Quintuple winner Hutchinson used both DunlopNTEC slicks and D211GP tyres for his grand-slamTT week; close relatives of Dunlop’s road-legalSportmax range.Among a cabinet of trophies, Dunlop’s TTlandmarks include many historic firsts:1957: first 100 mph lap – Bob McIntyre (Gilera)1966: first 100 mph lap on production bike: tyresubsequently named TT100 and still inproduction as part of Dunlop’s ‘classic’ range2006: first 130 mph lap – John McGuinness(Honda)2009: five TT wins from five races for Dunlop, and anew lap record of 131.6 mph.2010: another five wins, and more lap records2011: more wins?