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Joey Dunlop MBE OBE
Joey
Dunlop was unique. What you saw was what you got and that is why there is such a
great hole left in Irish motorcycle road racing. The
problem is - nobody really believes that he is dead. They expect him to pop up
as usual at Dundrod and give another spectacular performance just as he did last
year when beating David Jefferies. The
mind’s eye can still see that epic battle which, in my view, was Joey’s best
ever round this track - and let’s face it, Dundrod was the place he loved most
of all, including the TT’. It
was round Dundrod that we saw the best of his style - that smooth delivery where
he looked as safe as houses despite the fact that he was competing at
breath-taking speeds, Joey never appeared to be on the limit. That was his
secret. There was always something left in the tank. As
for his popularity, especially at the Ulster, it is hard to analyse. Even in his
later years when he wasn’t winning so often, spectators would still erupt into
a frenzy of excitement as soon as they heard that Joey was in the lead round the
course. When he came into sight the programmes were waved like ticker-tape
falling on Broadway. When Joey dropped back the race lost its meaning for many. Joey
Dunlop had that sort of effect on motorcycle fans. He will never be replaced. He
wasn’t simply, as the Isle of Man reports said, “Yer Man”, he was
everybody’s man. JIMMY
WALKER
Just
a year ago at the Ulster Grand Prix Joey Dunlop displayed to the racing world,
one of the many differing facets that made up his incredible character. When
Joey decided to do anything, nobody but nobody would either influence him, or
stop him. As
Frank Sinatra sang it, Joey did it his way, whether it was preparing his bikes,
taking part in a race, going for a win, attending a function or merely talking
to you, his decision was final. If Joey wanted to do, he did it, and vice versa. Last
August he decided to go for the win at his favourite Dundrod, and proceeded to
show for another time he was the master. He did it again in the Formula I race
at the T.T. in June. It
was that single mindedness that took him to Romania and Albania on his mercy
missions, and to Estonia for that fatal, final meeting. It was that same
determination which kept him going when others felt he should have stopped. Joey
Dunlop’s unchanged characteristics endeared him to every one. If any aspect of
his nature had been altered he would not have been the Joey we knew and loved,
and that in itself would have been a tragedy. In
these days of constant change, thank goodness Joey was always Joey. HAROLD
CROOKS
Can
you imagine going to London’s Dorchester Hotel to be informed that from now on
the main course will be omitted from your evening dinner. Well,
that’s what today’s Ulster Grand Prix is like with no Joey Dunlop. There’s
an empty feeling whether it be the Dorchester or Dundrod - can the menu ever be
the same again? The short answer is, no. Ever
since Joey’s untimely tragic death at the beginning of July in Estonia where
he was on target for a triple success, tributes continue to pour in from across
the world. Road
racing was his passion - he died doing what he did better than the opposition. Two
of his favourite circuits were the Isle of Man Ti’ and of course here at
Dundrod where his record 24 wins included three hat-tricks in 1984, ‘85 and
‘95. Most
of his successes were achieved on a selection of Hondas but he also flew the
Yamaha and Suzuki flags. Arguably
one of his most memorable races at the Prix was his last Superbike event a year
ago at Dundrod where he had a personal best lap speed of 126.84mph to beat David
Jeffenes by the slimmest of margins in the premier race. He
may have been small in stature but Joey’s legacy in terms of motorcycling and
humanitarian activities is infinite. From
a personal point of view I was privileged to report on Joey’s exploits over
the past 31 years. Sadly we have now come to the end of an era. What
a man? What a sporting icon? Thanks for the memories William Joseph Dunlop who
was still a winner at 48 years of age DERMOT
JAMES Newsletter
Dundrod and the Isle of Man were Joey’s main priorities each season. We all have very special memories of his magnificent battles here. Who can forget his victory
over the V & M Yamahas on the trusty RC45 Honda! Joey had that
great ability to rise to the occasion when required and against seemingly
impossible odds, came up with the goods! Amazingly,
if Joey, for what ever reason had, by his own high standards had a bad day, we
were all just as happy to have seen him out there. “He’s nothing to prove”
was the comment you heard. He was the one man who wasn’t knocked or considered
only as good as his last race. I
have never seen such self-belief, utter determination or track craft in anyone
else. So often, particularly in the 125cc class, at the Ulster, on certainly not
the quickest machine, he was the last rider in the main dice at the front going
into the last lap. He knew how and when to slip stream and pass his rivals and
more often than not, he swept into the last corner at the quarries in the lead! DAVID
WOOD
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