Whanganui Cemetery Circuit to host 13 time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop

Michael Dunlop in action at the 2016 Isle of Man TT (Getty image)
Michael Dunlop in action at the 2016 Isle of Man TT (Getty image)

13-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop will headline this year's Whanganui Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day.

Dunlop is a member of a road-racing dynasty with his father Robert winning five Isle of Man TTs while his uncle Joey was the greatest of all time with 26 victories.

While no-one has gone faster in the 109-year history of the race, it's all part of everyday life for the 27-year-old.

"It's normal", Dunlop told Newshub.

"Not any different to you jumping in the car and driving to the shop for a pint of milk, you just get used to it."

When it comes to being successful in the sport, Dunlop said that, growing up in his family, he had no choice.

"My Dad and Joey didn't make it easy for us, either winning a lot of races or being so successful.

"You're not going to be a vegetarian in a house full of meat."

Organiser Allan Willacy said he was hoping to see the same kind of riding from Dunlop that you see from him at the Isle of Man.

"Hopefully they bash a bit of fairings like you see they do at the Isle of Man," Willacy said

"It'd be great to have a winning guy like him going around Whanganui, that's for certain."

While the pressure of the Dunlop family's success may have propelled Michael to the height of his sport, he still maintains he just does it for the love of it.

"A lot of people ride the bikes to be famous.

"I do it because I genuinely like to ride motorbikes. I love the thrill. And the speed.

Newshub.