Thirteen-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop gained his first taste of Whanganui and the notorious Cemetery Circuit during a fleeting visit yesterday.
The Northern Irish rider is widely regarded as the best street racer on the globe and at first glimpse Dunlop said while a tad tighter than he normally enjoys, the circuit should hold no fears.
Dunlop and his partner Stacey Hutchinson were immediately taken by the heat on arrival in New Zealand as they drove down the North Island on their way to his first race at Manfield this weekend where will make his Suzuki Series debut.
Dunlop "had a bit of a play" at Taupo during round one practice day last Saturday but was unable to get official clearance from his insurers to race on Sunday.
There will be no such obstacles to overcome this coming weekend, or at Whanganui on Boxing Day and Dunlop said he was extremely keen to get into the thick of the action.