JOEY DUNLOPRoad racing motorcyclist Joey Dunlop died competingin the sport in which he excelled when he was only 48, hitting a tree in arally in Estonia on 2 July, 2000.He had spent a lifetime cheating death on some ofthe most dangerous circuits in the world – choosing to race his motorcyclesaway from the relative safety of laid-out commercial citcuits, preferring thesterner test of real roads, closed for specialist competition.His record of success was second to none, and hedied only weeks after winning what was to be his final Isle of Man TT race, oneof a record 26 in which he was victorious. He also won five world championshipsand his work bridged the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland .Such was his respect on the Isleof Man , the Manxparliament bestowed an honorary knighthood after he won three races in the 2000championship.Yet away from the circuits he had another passion –charity work, for which he organised relief trips, earning an OBE in 1995 - togo with his MBE from 1986 for his motorcycling.William Joseph Dunlop was born in Ballymoney, County Antrim ,on February 25, 1952, as one of seven children, and harboured early ambitionsto join the Army.He began racing simply for the fun of it, and hisfirst race was in 1969. But he was soon a regular winner, taking the 1977 Jubilee TT title and a further 25races there, and later five world championships and six consecutive formula onechampionships.After starting out on privately entered Yamahas, hejoined the Honda team and enjoyed major success with them from 1983 onwards.His roll of honour includes 24 Ulster Grands Prix, 13 North West 200s, 17 wins at the Skerries100, and he was accomplished on anything from 125cc to the big 750s.Mr Dunlop was a superstitious rider, always seen with ayellow helmet, riding a number 3 bike and wearing a red t-shirt under hisleathers.He ran a bar in Ballymoney when he was away from the racing circuits, andwas handed the freedom of the borough only weeks before he died.Mr Dunlop died when he hit a tree during a 125cc race on a 6.2-mile circuitin the capital of Estonia, Tallin .He was survived by his wife Linda, who was his childhood sweetheart, and theirfive children - two sons and three daughters. His brother Robert Dunlop was also a road racer. He died in a track accident in 2008.A charitablefoundation formed after his death has resulted in disabled viewing facilitiesat the TT races.In addition, propertywas purchased in Douglas, near the TTGrandstand, to become a holiday complex with specialised facilities for thedisabled.
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