It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since Robert Dunlop lost his life at the 2008 NorthWest 200.
10 years on we take a look back at his life and the impact he had on local motor cycle racing.
Born on the 25th of November to Willie & May Dunlop in Ballymoney, it was clear from a very young age that Robert had racing in his blood and both his two other brothers also shared his same passion and enthusiasm for it.
The brothers would practice their road racing skill on the back roads around Ballymoney avoiding the law where possible. But it would be at aged 19 that he debuted at the Temple 100.
This would launch a career of record-breaking achievements that would span almost 30 years up until his tragic death in 2008.
Injury
He would win many races from the Cookstown 100, NW200 to the Isle of Mann TT. One win that stands out during this portion of his career is in 1989 when he won the Macau Grand Prix.
The following year the wins kept coming as he joined the JPS Norton team but in 1994 he had an accident that should have finished his road racing career. At the TT on his Honda a wheel malfunctioned and Robert suffered multiple and serious injuries and very lucky not to have been killed.
Permanent tendon damage and a shortened leg left it unlikely and dangerous for Robert to ever ride never mind race a bike again!
Robert had other plans and was determined to return to the sport he just loved, which he did.
At the 1996 Cookstown 100 he rode again on a bike modified by Robert himself to accommodate his injuries. He would continue to race up until 2004
Retirement
Robert made an announcement in 2003 that he would begin retirement which would see him fully retired by the end of the 2004 race season.
Two of Roberts sons, Michael & William, had also caught the racing bug and Robert said that once he had retired that he would mentor them. The 2004 TT was the last race before his retirement, but not his last race!
Return to Road Racing
Despite retiring in 2004, while being inducted into the ‘Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame’ in 2005, Robert announced that following an operation on his leg, and providing all went well, he planned to return to road racing.
During this 2005 season he returned from retirement and the following year took his 15th win which was a course record at that time.
Death
Tragedy struck at the 2008 North West 200 during a practice lap of the course on his 250cc machine. As the riders were approaching Mathers Corner of the track,
Roberts bike had seized and he mistakenly applied the front brakes which sent him over the bars of the bike crashing onto the ground. Another ride was unable to avoid Robert and had a further collision with Robert.
Robert was taken to the nearby hospital in Coleraine with very serious chest injuries, injuries which took his life later that evening.
Michael’s Tribute Win
Just two short days after losing his father, Michael in tribute to his father, took part in the race which he won and dedicated it to his father.
legacy
Robert has a memorial garden created along with a statue and plaque of his achievements, beside his brother Joeys memorial garden who also lost his life in a racing accident back in 2000.
This year marks the 10th year anniversary of Roberts death and a memorial lap has been organised to commentated this.
