Joey Dunlop
William Joseph Dunlop was a Northern Irish roadracing motorcyclist from Ballymoney, County Antrim. In 2015, he was voted Northern Ireland's greatest-ever sports star.
Dunlop lies second on the list of all-time victories at the Isle of Man TT Races. During the course of his career, Dunlop secured a total 26 race wins at the TT, including three hat-tricks, and 24 wins at the Ulster Grand Prix.
Dunlop 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
Dunlop 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 2005, he was voted through Motorcycle News as the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever, behind Valentino Rossi. His achievements include three hat-tricks at the Isle of Man TT meeting, 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, Dunlop 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.
Dunlop 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, Joey – The Man Who Conquered the TT and Road.
Charity work and recognition
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. 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 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.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 Riada Leisure Centre in his hometown of Ballymoney was renamed the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre.
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.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Dunlop's passing, a special event titled "Joey 25" took place on 24 May 2025 in his home town. The celebration honoured his enduring legacy in motorcycle racing. The event featured a parade of over 25 of his iconic motorcycles, ridden by successful racers, including World Superbike champions Carl Fogarty and Jonathan Rea, alongside Grand Prix stars Ron Haslam and Jeremy McWilliams. Festivities included a 'Meet the Riders' session, autograph signings, live music and a special memorabilia exhibition at Ballymoney Museum showcasing artefacts from his career.
On 2 July 2025, a tribute lap of the Isle of Man TT course was held to mark the 25th anniversary of Dunlop’s death. Organised by the Joey Dunlop Foundation, the event invited riders to gather at the TT Grandstand in Douglas for a commemorative ride around the Mountain Course.
Also in July 2025, Arai released a limited-edition RX-7V Evo helmet to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Dunlop’s death. Styled after his iconic yellow and black racing design, only 600 individually numbered units were produced. Each helmet included a 25th anniversary badge, a Shell Oil sticker pack, and a certificate signed by Dunlop’s widow, Linda. A royalty from each sale went to her, and a donation was pledged toward a new monument at the Memorial Garden in Ballymoney.
In August 2025, a pop-up exhibition titled Joey Dunlop 2000 was held at the Mercury Club during the Classic TT, commemorating Dunlop’s final hat-trick of Isle of Man TT victories and featuring memorabilia including his race leathers, trophies, yellow helmet, and the motorcycles he rode to victory in 2000.