Robert Dunlop
Encyclopedia
Robert Dunlop was a Northern Irish motorcycle racer, the younger brother of fellow road racer, the late Joey Dunlop
, and like Joey he died after a crash while racing.
. His first professional race, where he was fully sponsored was at Aghadowey
in 1981.
Dunlop then began a record breaking run at the Cookstown 100, where his first win came in the 1985 250cc race. Riding an ECM, he averaged 88.57 mph to take the chequered flag ahead of Gary Cowan (EMC) and Noel Hudson (Rotax). His most successful year was 1987 when he scooped the prestigious “Man of the Meeting”, winning 125cc, 350cc and 1000cc races. Four more 125cc victories followed in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1993; a total of eight victories in the event.
He won the Macau Grand Prix
in 1989 on a Honda
500, beating Phillip McCallen
and Steve Hislop
, both on Honda 750's.
In 1990 he joined the JPS Norton
racing team on the RCW588
, which was powered by a Wankel engine
. On short circuits Dunlop notched one of the three three MCN Supercup wins, the other two by Terry Rymer
. Dunlop notched a double in Ireland's North West 200
and finished third in the F1 Isle of Man TT.
In 1994, Dunlop suffered a major accident on the Isle of Man Formula One TT, when the back wheel of his 750cc Honda RC45 collapsed in a long left turn, just after he took the jump over Ballaugh Bridge
. Dunlop suffered multiple injuries and was extremely lucky to have survived the high-speed crash. A long stay in hospital, followed by protractive recuperation, meant Dunlop was out of action for the remainder of 1994 and all of 1995.
Many believed that Dunlop's racing career was over, and he was left with severe tendon damage which restricted movement, and a shortened leg from the accident. Afterwards accepting his injuries and resultantly restricting his competition entries from then on to the 125cc class, Dunlop was determined to return. Dunlop chose the Cookstown 100 on 20 April 1996, and although still not fully fit, took ninth place in the 125cc race won by brother Joey. He has not won the Cookstown 100 since, but has returned every year in the 125cc class: 3rd in 1997, 4th in 1998, 3rd in 2002 and 2nd in 2004.
Subject to severe insurance restrictions and costs due to his continual pain and deteriorating condition of his leg, and even questions in the Northern Ireland Assembly
, on 16 December 2003 Dunlop announced that he would quit motorcycle racing after the 2004 season. Dunlop announced that he was hoping to win the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 before he quit, and that he intended to focus on his sons, William and Michael, and pass his motorcycling experience to them. Robert continued racing until his retirement at the 2004 Isle of Man TT
races.
On 8 February 2005 he was the first person to be elected to the "Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame". At the event, Dunlop announced that he was shortly to enter hospital to have his injured leg broken and lengthened, an inevitable conclusion to his 1994 Isle of Man TT accident. He also announced if all went well, he would love to return to motorcycle racing in 2006, sponsored by Patsy O'Kane in a last hurrah. Dunlop actually came back out of retirement during the 2005 road racing season.
Dunlop took his record breaking 15th win at the 2006 North West 200
meeting. The Dunlop brothers between them have also won a record number of races at the North West 200.
In 1994 an accident at Ballaugh Bridge
in the Formula 1 ended his week. He didn’t race again in the TT until 1997 in the 125cc Race and took third place. In 1998 he won the Ultra-Lightweight race and in 1999 finished 5th. In 2000 he rode a Honda in the Ultra-Lightweight and brought it home in third place. Over his career, he finished on a TT podium 14 times.
In February 2006, it was announced that Dunlop and his brother Joey were honoured with Honorary Degrees from the University of Ulster
, in light of their achievements in the field of motorcycle racing. On 4 July the pair were awarded honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv) from the University of Ulster in Coleraine
.
, Michael
and Daniel. William and Michael are motorcycle racers themselves.
. The fatal accident happened in the 250cc qualifying as the riders approached the Mather's Cross
section of the course. The engine on his motorcycle seized and as a result of mistakenly hitting the brake for the bike's front wheel, which was situated beside the clutch on his specially modified bike, he was subsequently thrown over the handlebars at approximately 160 mph. As he crashed, a following rider - Darren Burns - collided with him suffering a broken leg and concussion in the accident. Dunlop was taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine
before succumbing to his injuries shortly after 22.00 local time
. Dunlop had been racing in the 250cc class that year for the first time since the 1994 Isle of Man TT
. His son Michael went on to win the race and dedicated the victory to his father.
His funeral took place on 18 May 2008 at Garryduff Presbyterian Church in his home town of Ballymoney
. Dunlop was laid to rest beside his brother, Joey.
Joey Dunlop
William Joseph "Joey" Dunlop, OBE , was a world champion motorcyclist from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, best known for road racing. Referred to throughout the sport as "Joey", in 2005 he was voted the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever by Motorcycle News...
, and like Joey he died after a crash while racing.
Biography
After an apprenticeship on short circuits, the teenage Dunlop made his road race debut at the 1979 Temple 100. His first appearance at the Cookstown 100 came in 1980, riding a 347cc YamahaYamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
. His first professional race, where he was fully sponsored was at Aghadowey
Aghadowey
Aghadowey is a village and townland in east County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in Aghadowey civil parish, and is part of Coleraine Borough Council...
in 1981.
Dunlop then began a record breaking run at the Cookstown 100, where his first win came in the 1985 250cc race. Riding an ECM, he averaged 88.57 mph to take the chequered flag ahead of Gary Cowan (EMC) and Noel Hudson (Rotax). His most successful year was 1987 when he scooped the prestigious “Man of the Meeting”, winning 125cc, 350cc and 1000cc races. Four more 125cc victories followed in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1993; a total of eight victories in the event.
He won the Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in Macau, one of China's Special Administrative Regions. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held...
in 1989 on a Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
500, beating Phillip McCallen
Phillip McCallen
Phillip McCallen is a Northern Ireland born former motorcycle racer, now turned to dealer in his retirement from road racing....
and Steve Hislop
Steve Hislop
Steven 'Hizzy' Hislop was a Scottish motorcycle racer. Hislop won the Isle of Man TT eleven times and also the British 250cc Championship and British Superbike championship ....
, both on Honda 750's.
In 1990 he joined the JPS Norton
Norton (motorcycle)
Norton is a British motorcycle marque, originally from Birmingham, founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade". By 1902, they had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908, a Norton-built engine was added to the range...
racing team on the RCW588
Norton F1
The F1 is a road-going sports model that Norton based on its RCW588 racing motorcycle. The F1 was offered in only one livery: black with gold decals and grey and gold stripes, to reflect John Player's sponsorship of Norton's race team. It was distinctive for using a 588 cc liquid-cooled...
, which was powered by a Wankel engine
Wankel engine
The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into a rotating motion instead of using reciprocating pistons. Its four-stroke cycle takes place in a space between the inside of an oval-like epitrochoid-shaped housing and a rotor that...
. On short circuits Dunlop notched one of the three three MCN Supercup wins, the other two by Terry Rymer
Terry Rymer
Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer....
. Dunlop notched a double in Ireland's North West 200
North West 200
The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
and finished third in the F1 Isle of Man TT.
In 1994, Dunlop suffered a major accident on the Isle of Man Formula One TT, when the back wheel of his 750cc Honda RC45 collapsed in a long left turn, just after he took the jump over Ballaugh Bridge
Ballaugh
Ballaugh is a small village on the Isle of Man in the parish of the same name. It is the only village in the parish.-Village:The village is situated on the main A3 Castletown to Ramsey road about seven miles west of Ramsey...
. Dunlop suffered multiple injuries and was extremely lucky to have survived the high-speed crash. A long stay in hospital, followed by protractive recuperation, meant Dunlop was out of action for the remainder of 1994 and all of 1995.
Many believed that Dunlop's racing career was over, and he was left with severe tendon damage which restricted movement, and a shortened leg from the accident. Afterwards accepting his injuries and resultantly restricting his competition entries from then on to the 125cc class, Dunlop was determined to return. Dunlop chose the Cookstown 100 on 20 April 1996, and although still not fully fit, took ninth place in the 125cc race won by brother Joey. He has not won the Cookstown 100 since, but has returned every year in the 125cc class: 3rd in 1997, 4th in 1998, 3rd in 2002 and 2nd in 2004.
Subject to severe insurance restrictions and costs due to his continual pain and deteriorating condition of his leg, and even questions in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
, on 16 December 2003 Dunlop announced that he would quit motorcycle racing after the 2004 season. Dunlop announced that he was hoping to win the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 before he quit, and that he intended to focus on his sons, William and Michael, and pass his motorcycling experience to them. Robert continued racing until his retirement at the 2004 Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
races.
On 8 February 2005 he was the first person to be elected to the "Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame". At the event, Dunlop announced that he was shortly to enter hospital to have his injured leg broken and lengthened, an inevitable conclusion to his 1994 Isle of Man TT accident. He also announced if all went well, he would love to return to motorcycle racing in 2006, sponsored by Patsy O'Kane in a last hurrah. Dunlop actually came back out of retirement during the 2005 road racing season.
Dunlop took his record breaking 15th win at the 2006 North West 200
North West 200
The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
meeting. The Dunlop brothers between them have also won a record number of races at the North West 200.
Isle of Man TT record
A winner on the course at his first attempt, Dunlop won the 1983 Newcomers 350cc Manx Grand Prix. In 1989 he scored his first TT win in the 125cc Class with a new lap record at 103.02 mph. In 1990 he repeated his success in the 125 with a new lap record at 104.09 mph. In 1991 he scored a double victory taking the 125cc Race for the third year in succession at a record 103.68 mph with a new lap record at 106.71 mph and won the Junior TT at 114.89 mph. In 1992 he finished 2nd in the 125 and 3rd in the Junior and Senior and in 1993 he finished 2nd in the 125.In 1994 an accident at Ballaugh Bridge
Ballaugh
Ballaugh is a small village on the Isle of Man in the parish of the same name. It is the only village in the parish.-Village:The village is situated on the main A3 Castletown to Ramsey road about seven miles west of Ramsey...
in the Formula 1 ended his week. He didn’t race again in the TT until 1997 in the 125cc Race and took third place. In 1998 he won the Ultra-Lightweight race and in 1999 finished 5th. In 2000 he rode a Honda in the Ultra-Lightweight and brought it home in third place. Over his career, he finished on a TT podium 14 times.
Complete TT record
| 2004 | Ultra Lightweight 125cc 2 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Ultra Lightweight 125cc 4 |
|||
| 2002 2002 Isle of Man TT -Results:*Race 1 – Duke TT Formula One Race *Race 10 – Standard Bank Offshore Senior TT Race -External links:*... |
Ultra Lightweight 125cc 3 |
|||
| 2000 2000 Isle of Man TT The 2000 Isle of Man TT was a motorcycle race. The Isle of Man TT Race is held every year in the Isle of Man. The 2000 race was dominanted by David Jefferies and Joey Dunlop who gained a hat trick of wins each. This was Dunlop's 26th and final win at the TT and he proved he could still win a 'big... |
Ultra Lightweight 3 |
|||
| 1999 | Ultra Lightweight 5 |
|||
| 1998 | Ultra Lightweight TT 1 |
|||
| 1997 | Ultra Lightweight TT 3 |
|||
| 1993 | Ultra Lightweight 2 |
Junior TT 10 |
Formula One TT DNF |
Senior TT DNF |
| 1992 | Ultra Lightweight 2 |
Junior TT 3 |
Formula One TT DNF |
Senior TT 3 |
| 1991 | Ultra Lightweight 1 |
Junior TT 1 |
Formula One TT DNF |
Senior TT 3 |
| 1990 | Ultra Lightweight TT 1 |
Senior TT DNF |
||
| 1989 | Ultra Lightweight TT 1 |
Formula One TT 7 |
||
| 1988 | Production Class C 16 |
Junior TT DNF |
Formula One TT 13 |
Senior TT 12 |
| 1987 | Production Class D 6 |
Junior 250cc TT DNF |
Formula Two 5 |
|
| 1986 | Formula Two DNF |
|||
| 1985 | Production 100-250cc 6 |
Junior TT DNF |
Senior TT 32 |
|
| 1984 | Classic TT 12 |
Senior TT 14 |
||
| 1983 | Newcomers Junior 1 |
|||
Awards
On 8 February 2005 he was the first person to be elected to the "Irish Racer Magazine Hall of Fame".In February 2006, it was announced that Dunlop and his brother Joey were honoured with Honorary Degrees from the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, in light of their achievements in the field of motorcycle racing. On 4 July the pair were awarded honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv) from the University of Ulster in Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
.
Personal life
The son of Willie and May Dunlop, he was mentored by close friend Liam Beckett. Married to Louise, the couple had three sons, WilliamWilliam Dunlop (motorcycle racer)
William Dunlop is a Northern Irish motorcycle racer, brother of Michael and the son of the late Robert. William started racing 125 cc bikes at the age of 17....
, Michael
Michael Dunlop
Michael Dunlop is a Northern Irish motorcycle racer, brother of William and the son of the late Robert.He made his TT debut in 2007, where his best finish was 25th in the Superbike TT. He made the decision to ride in the 2008 races at the last minute after the death of his father at the North West...
and Daniel. William and Michael are motorcycle racers themselves.
Death
On 15 May 2008 Dunlop died after suffering severe chest injuries in a crash during a practice session at the North West 200North West 200
The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
. The fatal accident happened in the 250cc qualifying as the riders approached the Mather's Cross
Mather's Cross
Mather's Cross in County Antrim, Northern Ireland is a road junction situated on the primary A29 Portrush to Coleraine road and the tertiary Islandtasserty road and Atlantic road used for the North West 200 motor-cycle races since 1929....
section of the course. The engine on his motorcycle seized and as a result of mistakenly hitting the brake for the bike's front wheel, which was situated beside the clutch on his specially modified bike, he was subsequently thrown over the handlebars at approximately 160 mph. As he crashed, a following rider - Darren Burns - collided with him suffering a broken leg and concussion in the accident. Dunlop was taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
before succumbing to his injuries shortly after 22.00 local time
British Summer Time
Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
. Dunlop had been racing in the 250cc class that year for the first time since the 1994 Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
. His son Michael went on to win the race and dedicated the victory to his father.
His funeral took place on 18 May 2008 at Garryduff Presbyterian Church in his home town of Ballymoney
Ballymoney
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council....
. Dunlop was laid to rest beside his brother, Joey.