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On [[8 February]], [[2005]] he was the first person to be elected to the ''"Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame"''.
On [[8 February]], [[2005]] he was the first person to be elected to the ''"Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame"''.


In February [[2006]], it was announced that Dunlop and his brother Joey were honoured with Honorary Degrees from the [[University of Ulster]], in light of their achievements in the field of motorcycle racing <ref>http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2051.html</ref>. On [[4 July]] the pair were awarded honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv) from the University of Ulster in [[Coleraine]] <ref>http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2303.html</ref>. ==''''''
In February [[2006]], it was announced that Dunlop and his brother Joey were honoured with Honorary Degrees from the [[University of Ulster]], in light of their achievements in the field of motorcycle racing <ref>http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2051.html</ref>. On [[4 July]] the pair were awarded honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv) from the University of Ulster in [[Coleraine]] <ref>http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2303.html</ref>.
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==Personal life==
Perhaps the toughest man alive


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:35, 10 May 2007

Robert Dunlop (born Ballymoney, County Antrim in 1960), is a Northern Irish motorcycle racer, the younger brother of deceased fellow road racer Joey Dunlop.

Biography

After an apprenticeship on short circuits, the teenage Dunlop made his road race debut at the 1979 Temple 100. His first appearance at the Cookstown 100 came in 1980, riding a 347cc Yamaha. His first professional race, where he was fully sponsored was at Aghadowey in 1981 [1]

Dunlop then began a record breaking run at the Cookstown 100, where his first win came in the 1985 250cc race. Riding an ECM, he averaged 88.57mph to take the chequered flag ahead of Gary Cowan (EMC) and Noel Hudson (Rotax). His most successful year was 1987 when he scooped the prestigious “Man of the Meeting”, wining 125cc, 350cc and 1000cc races. Four more 125cc victories followed in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1993; a total of eight victories in the event [2].

He won the Macau Grand Prix in 1989 on a Honda 500, beating Phillip McCallen and Steve Hislop, both on Honda 750's [3].

In 1990 he joined the JPS Norton racing team on the Norton 588 Rotary, and on short circuits notched one of the three three MCN Supercup wins, the other two by Terry Rymer. Dunlop notched a double in Ireland's North West 200 and finished third in the F1 Isle of Man TT [4].

In 1994, Dunlop suffered a major accident on the Isle of Man Formula One TT, when the back wheel of his 750cc Honda RC45 collapsed just after he took the jump over Ballaugh Bridge. Dunlop suffered multiple injuries and was extremely lucky to have survived the high-speed crash. A long stay in hospital, followed by protractive recuperation, meant Dunlop was out of action for the remainder of 1994 and all of 1995.

Many believed that Dunlop's racing career was over, and he was left with sever tendon damage which restricted movement, and a shortened leg from the accident. Afterwards accepting his injuries and resultantly restricting his competition entries from then on to the 125cc class, Dunlop was determined to return. Dunlop chose the Cookstown 100 on 20 April, 1996, and although still not fully fit, took ninth place in the 125cc race won by brother Joey [5]. He has not won the Cookstwon 100 since, but has returned every year in the 125cc class: 3rd in 1997, 4th in 1998, 3rd in 2002 and 2nd in 2004.

Subject to severe insurance restrictions and costs due to his continual pain and deteriorating condition of his leg, and even questions in the Northern Ireland Assembly [6], on 16 December, 2003 Dunlop announced that he would quit motorcycle racing after the 2004 season. Dunlop announced that he was hoping to win the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 before he quit, and that he intended to focus on his sons, William and Michael, and pass his motorcycling experience to them. Robert continued racing until his retirement at the 2004 Isle of Man TT races [7].

On 8 February, 2005 he was the first person to be elected to the "Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame". At the event, Dunlop announced that he was shortly to enter hospital to have his injured leg broken and lengthened, an inevitable conclusion to his 1994 Isle of Man TT accident. He also announced if all went well, he would love to return to motorcycle racing in 2006, sponsored by Patsy O'Kane in a last hurrah [8]. Dunlop actually came back out of retirement during the 2005 road racing season.

Dunlop took his record breaking 15th win at the 2006 North West 200 meeting [9]. The Dunlop brothers between have also won a record number of races at the North West 200.

Isle of Man TT record

A winner on the course at his first attempt, Dunlop won the 1983 Newcomers 350cc Manx Grand Prix. In 1989 he scored his first TT win in the 125cc Class with a new lap record at 103.02mph. In 1990 he repeated his success in the 125 with a new lap record at 104.09mph. In 1991 he scored a double victory taking the 125cc Race for the third year in succession at a record 103.68mph with a new lap record at 106.71mph and won the Junior TT at 114.89mph. In 1992 he finished 2nd in the 125 and 3rd in the Junior and Senior and in 1993 he finished 2nd in the 125.

In 1994 an accident at Ballaugh Bridge in the Formula 1 ended his week. He didn’t race again in the TT until 1997 in the 125cc Race and took third place. In 1998 he won the Ultra-Lightweight race and in 1999 finished 5th. In 2000 he rode a Honda in the Ultra-Lightweight and brought it home in third place [10]

Awards

On 8 February, 2005 he was the first person to be elected to the "Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame".

In February 2006, it was announced that Dunlop and his brother Joey were honoured with Honorary Degrees from the University of Ulster, in light of their achievements in the field of motorcycle racing [11]. On 4 July the pair were awarded honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv) from the University of Ulster in Coleraine [12].

References

  1. ^ http://www.speed-merchants.com/products/1350.htm
  2. ^ http://www.cookstown100.co.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=15
  3. ^ http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s180/st67837.htm
  4. ^ http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1989_jps_norton.html
  5. ^ http://www.cookstown100.co.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=15
  6. ^ http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/qanda/writtenans/020215.htm
  7. ^ http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/04%20news/dec_03_news.html
  8. ^ http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/05_news/08_02_052.html
  9. ^ http://www.dukevideo.com/Bikes/DVD/Champions/Robert%20Dunlop%20Story%20DVD.aspx
  10. ^ http://www.iomtt.com/TTDatabase/Riders.aspx?ride_id=3699
  11. ^ http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2051.html
  12. ^ http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2303.html

three sons - two whom race

External links

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