Michael Dunlop among entries for third round of IRRC at Imatra in Finland

On his previous visit to the legendary street course in 2022, Dunlop – who qualified eighth fastest – never registered a finish in any of the three Superbike races after encountering issues with his Penz13.com Honda Superstock bike.

Dunlop’s uncle Joey was victorious at Imatra in 1986 at a round of the TT Formula 1 World Championship.

An iconic venue, Imatra hosted the Finnish Grand Prix from 1964 to 1982.

Michael Dunlop on his Hawk Racing Honda Superbike at the Isle of Man TT

The three-day meeting takes place on the Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit from July 5-7, when Dunlop will face seasoned IRRC riders including reigning champion Lukas Maurer, former Macau Grand Prix winner Erno Kostamo and Germany’s David Datzer.

The 35-year-old heads to the event as the newly crowned King of the Mountain at the Isle of Man TT, where Dunlop won four races earlier this month to surpass Joey’s record of 26 victories, setting a new benchmark of 29 wins around the 37.73-mile course.

Last year, the Imatra meeting was overshadowed by the tragic death of Dutch racer Joey den Besten, who collided with a pole in heavy rain on the formation lap prior to the Superbike race.

The 30-year-old was a former two-time IRRC Supersport champion.

England’s Peter Hickman made his debut at Imatra last year on his FHO Racing BMW and Trooper Beer Triumph machines, finishing second in the ‘King of Imatra’ race behind Finland’s Kostamo.

Northern Ireland’s Adam McLean will also be in action in the Supersport class at Imatra next weekend for Dutch team Performance Racing Achterhoek (PRA).

McLean missed the first round at Hengelo in the Netherlands, which clashed with the North West 200, but he made a victorious debut at Schleiz in Germany almost two weeks ago, winning the second race on his Yamaha R6 by two-and-a-half seconds from Jef Van Calster, who beat McLean in the opening race.

Ballymoney’s Darryl Tweed crashed in the first race and sustained a broken left leg and ankle.

The Imatra meeting concludes a day before practice is scheduled to commence for the Southern 100 at the Billown course on the Isle of Man.

Dunlop is among the leading entries for the four-day Manx road race along with Senior TT winner Davey Todd and Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison.

The Southern 100 was abandoned last summer after a tragic accident at the end of a qualifying session that claimed the life of racer Alan Connor from Co Meath and a 66-year-old marshal.