The Dunlop dynasty
Latest book by Stephen Davison celebrates road racing royalty
‘Even during the happiest days, a lingering pain remains’
Think road racing and there is one name which stands out above all others. For over five decades the Dunlops have been at the forefront of the road racing scene with a storyline of unprecedented success tinged with equal levels of tragedy.
To document this incredible story MCN road racing reporter and photographer Stephen Davison has produced a 240-page celebration - The Dunlop Dynasty: The world’s greatest road racing family.
“Documenting the exploits of the Dunlop road racers has always been at the heart of my work as a photographer,” Davison says.
“Wanting to capture something of Joey Dunlop’s road racing exploits was the reason I picked up a camera in the first place more than 30 years ago. One thing led to another and press photography became the day job. On weekends off I tried to get to as many races as I could to see both Joey and his brother Robert in action.”
While the opening sections of The Dunlop Dynasty, are devoted to Joey and Robert’s careers, the remaining 13 chapters and 180 pages illustrate the story of the second generation of Dunlop road racers as they focus on the betweenthe-hedges exploits of William, Michael, Gary and Sam Dunlop plus their cousin, Paul Robinson, whose mother, Helen, is the sister of Joey and Robert.
“There has been so much to photograph of the Dunlop family.” Davison comments.
“A sport full of risk, road racing also presents a very beautiful danger. The bikes being prepared in the paddock fields, the quiet moments before the flag drops and the spectacular dices between riders before the post-race celebrations bring the day’s action to a close draw you in… Often the best pictures come in the quiet moments after the champagne has been spilled.”
The Dunlop story is undoubtedly one of triumph and tragedy.
“They are road racing’s most successful family but that success has come at a huge price as Joey, Robert and William have all lost their lives in race crashes,” Davison reflects. “Even during the happiest days, a lingering pain remains.”
Undeterred by grief, the family have continued to compete. On Saturday, May 17, 2008, tens of thousands of people lined the North West 200 course, waving their race programmes and cheering themselves hoarse as they roared Michael Dunlop to an incredible 250cc race victory.
The 18-year-old’s achievement would have been worthy of acknowledgement in any circumstance but the victory came less than 48 hours after his father, Robert, had lost his life in a crash during practice for the same race.
Michael and his older brother, William, were determined to compete in their father’s honour despite a ban from race officials who were concerned about their
emotional stability following the tragic loss of their father.
Shrugging off the sanction, the Dunlop brothers brought their race bikes to the start line. William was distraught when his machine ground to a halt with an electrical fault during the sighting lap, leaving Michael to claim what many consider to be one of the greatest motorcycle sporting triumphs of all-time.
That race marked the passing of the mantle from the first generation of Dunlop road racers to the second and Michael and William would go on to enjoy tremendous success on the roads as they picked up where their father and uncle had left off.
Emulating Joey and Robert’s achievements, they joined leading manufacturer supported teams and claimed numerous wins on the Irish National scene alongside brilliant successes at the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix and Isle of Man TT.
Their cousins would also make their mark in the sport. Alongside victories on the Irish roads, Sam Dunlop would claim two wins at the Manx Grand Prix as Paul Robinson emulated his father, Mervyn’s success with triumphs at the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix.
Joey’s son Gary initially raced for several seasons following his father’s death, before quitting the sport only to return to action in 2016. He would eventually join the other members of the Dunlop clan in becoming an Irish road racing champion in 2019.
Tragically, William would suffer the same fate as his uncle and father when he lost his life in a crash during practice for the Skerries 100 in 2018. During the months that followed, Sam, Paul and Gary retired from racing, leaving Michael as the last member of the Dunlop family still competing between the hedges.
Michael has continued to notch up TT successes, winning his 25th race in 2023. That victory leaves the now 34-year-old just one victory shy of his uncle Joey’s all-time record and poised to inherit his mantle as the most successful TT rider of all time.
● The hardback book includes an incredible selection of racing and non racing pictures and the story behind them It is available on Amazon. Priced at £20.60.