Joey Dunlop

Joey Dunlop OBE
Photo of Dunlop on the TT podium wearing a wreath
Dunlop at the TT races
NationalityBritish
Born(1952-02-25)25 February 1952
Unshinagh, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Died2 July 2000(2000-07-02) (aged 48)
Tallinn, Estonia
Bike number3
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Isle of Man TT career
TTs contested102 (19762000)
TT wins26
First TT win1977 Jubilee Classic
Last TT win2000 Ultra-Lightweight 125 TT
TT podiums40
Dunlop on a Honda RS125 exiting the Gooseneck, a bend at the start of the mountain section of the Isle of Man TT course

William Joseph Dunlop OBE (25 February 1952 – 2 July 2000) was a Northern Irish motorcyclist from Ballymoney, County Antrim, who was noted for his performances at the Isle of Man TT. In 2015, he was voted Northern Ireland's greatest-ever sports star.

Dunlop secured a record 26 victories at the Isle of Man TT, including three hat-tricks, and 24 wins at the Ulster Grand Prix. He was awarded the MBE in 1986 for his contributions to the sport and the OBE in 1996 for his humanitarian work in Romanian orphanages. After his death, the Joey Dunlop Foundation was established to provide accommodation for disabled visitors to the Isle of Man. Dunlop's legacy includes the "Joey Dunlop Cup," awarded to the most successful rider at the annual TT races, and several memorials and statues in his honour. Dunlop's career was documented in several films.

Career

He won his third hat trick at the Isle of Man TT in 2000 and set his fastest lap on the course of 123.87 mph in the Senior race, which he finished third. In 2016 he was voted through Motorcycle News as the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever, behind Valentino Rossi.[citation needed][failed verification] His achievements include three hat-tricks at the Isle of Man TT meeting (1985, 1988 and 2000), where he won a record 26 races in total. A curve at the 26th milestone on the Isle of Man was named in his honour.

Along with Frank Kennedy, Mervyn Robinson and Jim Dunlop, he was one of the "Armoy Armada" quartet of 1970s motorcycle racers from Armoy, County Antrim.

During his career he won the Ulster Grand Prix 24 times. In 1986, he won a fifth consecutive TT Formula One world title; initially based on one race at the Isle of Man TT after the loss of World Championship status from 1977-onwards and organised by the Auto-Cycle Union, the title was eventually expanded to take in more rounds in other countries.

He was awarded the MBE in 1986 for his services to the sport, and in 1996 he was awarded the OBE for his humanitarian work for children in Romanian orphanages, to which he had delivered clothing and food. Dunlop has featured in documentary films regarding his career: V Four Victory (1983), Joey – The Man Who Conquered the TT (2013) and Road (2014).

Rider seated without helmet on white and green motorcycle prior to race
Senior TT in 1992

Charity work and recognition

Three way road junction with bridge over river to left and building rooftops to centre behind road and lower down closer to river level
Joey Dunlop Foundation building at Braddan Bridge, Douglas, Isle of Man

Dunlop helped orphans in the Balkans, driving a van loaded with supplies to orphanages in Romania, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina before the annual racing season began. In 1996, he received an OBE for his humanitarian work.

After Dunlop's death, the Joey Dunlop Foundation was initiated, a charity that provides appropriate accommodation for disabled visitors to the Isle of Man.

On 30 January 2015, Dunlop was voted Northern Ireland's greatest sports star by readers of the Belfast Telegraph newspaper.

Shipwreck

On the night of 23 May 1985, Dunlop was travelling from Northern Ireland to the Isle of Man for the annual TT races by sea, on board the Tornamona, a former fishing boat. The vessel had departed from Strangford, County Down, with Dunlop, other riders, racing bikes and equipment on board. Strong currents into Strangford Lough pushed the Tornamona onto St Patrick's Rock, where her rudder broke off in a crevice. The boat sank and all 13 passengers and crew were rescued by the Portaferry Lifeboat. The bikes were later recovered by divers.

Personal life

Dunlop married on 22 September 1972 at Ballymoney register office.[citation needed] He was the proprietor of a pub in Ballymoney, and was highly superstitious, always wearing a red T-shirt and his yellow crash helmet when racing. Dunlop was presented with the Freedom of the Borough by Ballymoney Council in 1993.

Death

Dunlop died on 2 July 2000 in Tallinn, Estonia, while leading a 125cc race (he had already won the 750cc and 600cc events) on Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit. He appeared to lose control of his bike in the wet conditions and died instantly on impact with trees. As a mark of respect, the Estonian government's official website was replaced with a tribute to Dunlop within hours of his death. Northern Ireland television carried live coverage of his funeral. Fifty thousand mourners, including bikers from all parts of Britain and Ireland and people from all backgrounds in Northern Ireland, attended the funeral procession to Garryduff Presbyterian church and his burial in the adjoining graveyard.

Statue on the TT course
Memorial at the Joey and Robert Dunlop Memorial Gardens, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

Legacy

The most successful overall rider at the annual TT races is awarded the "Joey Dunlop Cup". A memorial statue was erected in his home town of Ballymoney. On the Isle of Man, a statue of Dunlop astride a Honda overlooks the Bungalow Bend at Snaefell and the 26th Milestone area of the TT course was named "Joey's". A memorial stone was installed at the crash site in Tallinn as well. Irish publishers The O'Brien Press produced a full-colour pictorial tribute to Dunlop following his death. Northern Ireland band Therapy? recorded a song in memory of Dunlop, called Joey; it appeared on the album Shameless, released in 2001.

Following his death, the Leisure Centre in his hometown of Ballymoney was renamed from the Riada Centre to the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre.[citation needed] In 2001, the Joey Dunlop Memorial Garden was established in the Dunlop family's hometown, and in 2010 the tribute was extended to include the Robert Dunlop Memorial Garden to honour Joey's late brother, Robert Dunlop. On 26 February 2022, a statue of William Dunlop, son of Robert and nephew of Joey, was added to the Memorial Garden. William died while racing at the Skerries 100 event in 2018.

Racing record

Complete TT record

2000 Ultra Lightweight
1
Lightweight 250 TT
1
Junior 600cc
4
Formula One TT
1
Senior
3
1999 Ultra Lightweight
27
Lightweight 250 TT
5
Junior 600cc
5
Formula One TT
2
Senior
5
1998 Ultra Lightweight TT
9
Lightweight TT
1
Senior TT
DNF
1997 Ultra Lightweight
10
Lightweight TT
1
Junior TT
5
Formula One TT
6
Senior TT
7
1996 Ultra Lightweight
1
Lightweight TT
1
Formula One TT
7
Senior TT
2
1995 Ultra Lightweight
DNF
Lightweight TT
1
Junior TT
4
Formula One TT
2
Senior TT
1
1994 Ultra Lightweight
1
Classic Junior
2
Junior TT
1
Supersport 600
7
Formula One TT
3
Senior TT
3
1993 Ultra Lightweight
1
Classic Lightweight
DNF
Junior TT
3
Supersport 60
DNF
Formula One TT
14
Senior TT
11
1992 Ultra Lightweight
1
Junior TT
DNF
Supersport 600
9
Formula One TT
3
Senior TT
DNF
1991 Ultra Lightweight
2
Junior TT
5
Supersport 600
6
Formula One TT
DNF
Senior TT
2
1990 Ultra Lightweight TT
DNF
Junior TT
DNF
Formula One TT
8
Senior TT
16
1988 Production Class B
5
Production Class C
11
Junior TT
1
Formula One TT
1
Senior TT
1
1987 Production Class B
18
Junior 250cc TT
8
Formula One TT
1
Senior TT
1
1986 Production Class C
4
Junior TT
DNF
Formula One TT
1
Senior TT
4
1985 Production 251–750cc
22
Junior TT
1
Formula One TT
1
Senior TT
1
1984 Production 251–750cc
DNF
Junior TT
DNF
Classic TT
2
Formula One TT
1
Senior TT
DNF
1983 Senior Classic TT
3
Formula One TT
1
1982 Classic TT
DNF
Formula One TT
2
1981 Classic TT
DNF
Formula One TT
3
1980 Junior TT
12
Classic TT
1
Senior TT
9
1979 Junior 250cc TT
DNF
Classic TT
6
Formula Two TT
13
Formula One TT
DNF
Senior TT
DNF
1978 Junior TT
11
Classic TT
DNF
Formula Two TT
5
Formula One TT
DNF
Senior TT
DNF
1977 Junior 250cc TT
10
Jubilee TT
1
Classic TT
7
Senior TT
4
1976 Lightweight 250cc TT
DNF
Junior TT
16
Classic TT
DNF
Senior TT
18

Ulster Grand Prix: 24 victories

Year Class/Race Machine Average
1979 500cc Suzuki 112.76 mph
1979 Superbike 750cc Yamaha 115.34 mph
1980 250cc Yamaha 107.71 mph
1980 Superbike 1000cc Suzuki 116.39 mph
1983 TT F1 920cc Honda 107.38 mph
1984 250cc Honda 110.55 mph
1984 500cc Honda 118.17 mph
1984 TT F1 Honda 114.28 mph
1985 250cc Honda 111.96 mph
1985 500cc Honda 116.14 mph
1985 TT F1 750cc Honda 114.45 mph
1986 Classic Race 500cc Honda 118.29 mph
1988 250cc Honda 112.30 mph
1990 TT F1 750cc Honda 120.87 mph
1991 Superbike Race1 750cc Honda 118.36 mph
1991 Superbike Race2 750cc Honda 110.87 mph
1992 125cc Honda 102.18 mph
1994 125cc Honda 108.83 mph
1994 Superbike Race1 750cc Honda 123.23 mph
1995 250cc Race1 Honda 117.94 mph
1995 250cc Race2 Honda 118.28 mph
1995 Superbike Race1 750cc Honda 122.25 mph
1997 250cc Race2 Honda .
1999 Superbike Race2 750cc Honda

North West 200: 13 victories

Year Class/Race Machine Average
1979 International Match Race 750cc Yamaha 120.01 mph
1979 NW200 Race 750cc Yamaha 120.34 mph
1981 NW200 Race 1100cc Honda 119.83 mph
1983 500 Race Honda 106.05 mph
1983 NW200 Race 1000cc Honda 105.64 mph
1984 MCN Master Race 750cc Honda 107.02 mph
1985 250 Race 1 Honda 110.95 mph
1985 NW200 Race 750cc Honda 118.68 mph
1986 NW200 Race 750cc Honda 108.05 mph
1987 Superbike Race 750cc Honda 113.29 mph
1987 NW200 Race 750cc Honda 118.61 mph
1987 Production Race 750cc Honda 108.77 mph
1988 Production Race 750cc Honda 109.08 mph

Formula TT World Championship

Year Result/Position
1980 3rd
1981 3rd
1982 1st
1983 1st
1984 1st
1985 1st
1986 1st
1987 2nd
1988 2nd
1990 2nd

World Grand Prix Championships

Year Class Race Position Points
1979 350cc French Grand Prix (Le Mans) 9th 2
1985 250cc British Grand Prix (Silverstone) 10th 1

World Formula 750 Championship

Year Race Position Points
1979 Germany (Hockenheim) 9th 2

Macau Grand Prix

Year Race Position
1982 Macau 3rd
1983 Macau 2nd

Imola 200

Year Race Position
1987 Italy (Imola) 3rd

World Superbikes (WSBK) 1988

Race Result
British (Donington) 3rd race 1, 5th race 2
Hungary (Hungaroring) 6th race 1
Germany (Hockenheim) 7th race 1, 5th race 2

(Dunlop had 30 points accumulated and was lying 3rd in the championship up until the TT races, however he stopped competing in the championship and still managed to finish 13th in the final championship table.)

See also


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