TRAGIC WILLIAM WAS PLANNING TO RETIRE
Dad’s death changed his attitude to racing
WILLIAM’S AUNT YESTERDAY
William at the Skerries 100 meeting TRAGIC William Dunlop was considering retiring from road racing in the days before his death.
The 32-year-old dad of one was making his return to action when he crashed practising for the Skerries 100 in Co Dublin on Saturday.
When previously asked if the sport gave him the same buzz, he said: “Not since what happened to my dad.
“He always looked after things for us. I have been on my own since really and haven’t had anyone with me the whole way through.
“When I began, it was all about the racing. You went and raced, you didn’t really care where you finished and my dad was always there to sort any problems.
“After my dad died, I started to win a few races like my first North West, and then I won my first Ulster Grand Prix and then you become competitive and once that happened the fun went out of it for me. Racing has turned into a business. It’s not like throwing a bike in the back of a van now.
“I didn’t think being a dad would change the way I thought, but it has. It makes you realise there is more to life than motorbikes and winning.”
He pulled out of the Isle of Man TT races last month after an injury at the North West 200 in May.
William is expected to be buried alongside his beloved dad Robert in the family’s plot.
Yesterday scores of people went to the Dunlop memorial garden in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, to leave flowers and messages.
Robert, 47, died at the North West 200 in 2008 and eight years earlier his brother, the legendary Joey, died racing in Estonia.
Joey’s wife Linda said words could not describe how the family are left feeling again.
She added: “My whole love goes out to Janine Brolly [William’s partner] and wee Ella and all the family. William just reminds me so much of Joey in his mannerism and a lovely kind family man.”
William’s Yamaha team said: “We hoped we would never have to write a post like this. We are still numb and in shock.”
Yesterday the Skerries 100 went ahead with the Dunlop family’s blessing. A statement from organisers the Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club said the prize fund would go to William’s family.
My whole love goes to Janine, wee Ella and the whole family
LINDA DUNLOP