Today in motorcycle history, July 2, 2000

 

 

  TT legend Joey Dunlop dies in Tallinn, Estonia. 

 

  Having already won the 750cc and 600cc class races, Joey Dunlop was leading the 125cc race when, in wet conditions on Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit, he lost control and hit head-first into the trees killing him instantly.

  Dunlop was so well-loved that Northern Ireland television carried live coverage of his funeral.  Fifty thousand mourners, including bikers from all parts of Britain and Ireland, attended the funeral at Garryduff Presbyterian church and his burial in the adjoining graveyard.

 

 

  Joey Dunlop's riding/racing ability and his list of wins was so impressive that Motorcycle News voted Joey as the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever.  He won 26 times at Isle of Man TT, including three hat-tricks in 1985, 1988 and 2000.  In 1986 he won his fifth consecutive TT Formula One world title.

  Originally from Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, homeboy won the Ulster Grand Prix 24 times. 

 

  On the Isle of Man, a statue of Dunlop astride a Honda overlooks the Bungalow Bend at Snaefell.

 

  William Joseph Dunlop was awarded the MBE in 1986 for his services to the sport, and in 1996 he was awarded the OBE for his humanitarian work for children in Romanian orphanages, to which he had delivered clothing and food.