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| Joey Dunlop Tribute from the TT Website
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As Reported on
SportLive
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King Joey, the master road racer
by Dave
Fern
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Joey Dunlop, who died on Sunday when his 125cc bike
crashed in Estonia, was the acknowledged master of road racing.
His
pedigree was without equal: five times World TT Formula One champion and a
winner of 26 races on the infamous Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.
Dunlop was a rider of sheer class and style. At times it seemed no feat
was beyond the remarkable publican from Ballymoney. Only last month, we had
thrilled to his winning treble at the Isle of Man as he defied the odds to
clinch the TT Formula One race, followed by success in the 250cc TT and 125cc
races.
They were moments to savour for a man who lost his way the first
time he raced the Mountain Course in 1976.
Dunlop was awarded the MBE
for his riding skills and then received the OBE in recognition of his
charitable deeds, which included lone journeys to stricken parts of eastern
Europe with truckloads of clothes, food and toys. As a devoted family man -
married to Linda, with five children Julie, Donna, Gary, Richard and Joanne -
it was second nature to him to help.
In what proved to be his final TT
festival, the 48-year-old was honoured by Manx leaders with a replica Sword of
State. It was inscribed: "King of the Mountain."
Ulster's leading
politicians on Sunday night paid tribute to Dunlop. A joint statement by First
Minister David Trimble and deputy Seamus Mallon read: "Joey was a brilliant
sportsman, a true man of the people, and a wonderful ambassador for Northern
Ireland."
All of us at TT Website wish to extend our sincerest
and deepest sympathy to the family of William Joseph, The Legend who's
accomplishments will live forever.
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