‘Despite fame, Joey remained unchanged’

Race wins provided a prominent position in the record books but it was the manner in which Joey Dunlop lived his life that ensured he occupies a special place in the hearts and memories of race fans. Joey would become a hero but he never presented himself in that way. His successful career kept him in the spotlight for a long time and his defeat of David Jefferies at the Ulster Grand Prix in 1999 provided a little lift to the underdog in all of us. Having done his talking on the track, the Ulsterman remained humble in victory.

A quiet, family man at ease in his own company, Joey set out on a series of solo mercy missions during the 1990s to orphanages in Eastern Europe. Seeking to give something back to ordinary people who were less fortunate than himself, these trips provided inspiration far beyond his chosen sport.

News of Joey Dunlop’s demise in a remote forest in Tallinn on July 2, 2000 stunned the world. Our memory of him remains frozen in time, racing and winning at the height of his powers during his last TT, his reputation untarnished by age or sad decline.