Dunlop: Injury is my top priority

Dunlop – who reignited his family's famous legacy at the Isle of Man TT in June when he won the second Supersport race – broke the metatarsal bone in his left thumb in the crash and the injury has been a source of consternation ever since.

He is determined to ensure he is in peak condition for the beginning of the 2010 road racing season at the Cookstown 100 in April.

"I'm going to see a specialist now in the New Year. I went to Altnagelvin Hospital for X-rays before Christmas and now I'll go and get it looked at again in January," he said.

"The nerves in my hand have been damaged and holding onto a bike is a problem. I want to get it sorted out well before the start of the season so that we're not caught out.

"I don't want to be heading into the first race when I'm not fully fit, so that's why I want to get the problem seen to now," he added.

"The metatarsal had been broken in my thumb; they're talking about breaking it and re-setting it again. The bone was broken in my thumb and it healed over, but it healed the wrong way because it hadn't been looked at properly.

"It's not numb now, although it had been for a while."

Dunlop made a blistering start to the 2009 season, announcing his status as a major player between the hedges with a Supersport victory at the Tandragee 100 in May, when he edged out the highly experienced Ryan Farquhar and the Dungannon racer's arch-rival Keith Amor to take the chequered flag.

He maintained his superb form on Gary Ryan's Street Sweep Yamaha R6 at the North West 200, taking third place in a hotly contested Supersport race behind eight-times winner Steve Plater on the HM Plant Honda and Relentless TAS Suzuki's Bruce Anstey.

However, it was at the TT in June when Michael fulfilled his pledge to keep the Dunlop flag flying high on the Island, when he stunned seasoned competitors by posting the fastest lap in practice before romping to a hugely popular triumph in the second Supersport race.

On his plans for 2010, Dunlop was keeping his cards close to his chest for now, but revealed he intends to make an announcement by the end of January as he prepares to embark on his quest for further international success.

"I'll know in two weeks' time what my plans are. I might have something sorted out with a Superstock ride," he said.

"I haven't sorted a Superbike yet, but I'm staying on the same Supersport bike with Gary (Ryan); there might be another person coming on board with us with the Supersport bike, but I have to wait and see yet.

"I'll be talking to whoever I need to over the coming weeks and getting a definite answer from them – the lads that own the 125 Honda and 250 Honda – and I should know for definite by the end of January," he added.

"I'm also sitting down to talk with Gary about things and we'll see from there, but I'm looking forward to getting things finalised and to the start of the new season."