William Dunlop (motorcyclist)
William Dunlop (23 July 1985 – 7 July 2018) was a professional motorcycle racer from Northern Ireland who died as a result of a racing incident. Part of a motorcycle racing dynasty, William was the elder brother of Michael; both were sons of the late Robert Dunlop, and nephews of the late Joey Dunlop. He died as a result of a crash at a racing event in the Republic of Ireland.
| William Dunlop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Dunlop at the North West 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Northern Irish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 23 July 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 7 July 2018 (aged 32) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
William started racing 125 cc bikes in 2000, when he was 15. During his racing career, he accumulated 108 Irish National Road Race wins.[2]
In addition, he also achieved numerous victories at two of Ireland's prestigious road racing events, the North West 200 (4) and the Ulster Grand Prix (7).[2] His best results at the Isle of Man TT saw him securing the third tier on the podium on four occasions with his best result being the runner up position in the 2016 TT Zero.[2]
Until late 2015, Dunlop had raced for Tyco BMW Motorrad Racing campaigning the BMW S1000RR and a Suzuki GSX-R600. The 2016 season saw him competing at the main International Road Races aboard Yamaha YZF-R1 and Yamaha YZF-R6 in the Superbike and Supersport categories.
In addition, Dunlop campaigned a Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock machine, provided by a different team, during selected rounds of the British Championship.[3][4][5]
Dunlop also competed in eleven TT race seasons between 2006 and 2017, with a second place and four third places being his best results, in the 125 cc, SuperSport and Classic races.[6][7] He won two races at the North West 200 with his first victory being in the 2009 250 cc event. 2009 also saw Dunlop take part in the last ever 250cc Grand Prix race at Valencia finishing 18th on a P J Flynn Bigman Racing Honda.[8]
2014
Dunlop crashed his Tyco Suzuki Superbike in the final race of the week at the 2014 Isle of Man TT, during the Senior TT event. He led the race on time briefly during the first lap, but ran wide through the Graham Memorial corner on the mountain section on the third lap, running off the road up against the adjacent embankment, resulting in two fractures to his left leg.[9][10]
2015
Dunlop got his 2015 season off to a positive start by clinching a brace of wins at a rain-soaked Tandragee 100.[11] In the Supersport Class, Dunlop put in a very convincing performance on board the CD Racing Yamaha YZF-R6[11] and rounded the meeting off by taking victory in the Senior Open Race on the TAS BMW S1000RR.[11]
Death
Dunlop sustained fatal head injuries as a result of a crash during practice for the 2018 Skerries 100 Road Races in County Dublin. His Yamaha YZF-R1 bike spilled oil from the engine sump onto the back wheel, and as a result Dunlop lost control and crashed into a ditch and trees at the Sam's Tunnel part of the circuit.[12][13]
On 26 February 2022, a statue of William Dunlop was added to the Memorial Garden in Ballymoney, where there were memorials to his father Robert and uncle Joey.[14]
Career statistics
Complete TT record
| 2018 | Superbike TT DNF | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Superbike TT 9 |
Supersport 1 TT 4 |
Superstock TT 7 |
Senior TT 10 | |||
| 2016 | Superbike TT DNF |
Supersport 1 TT 7 |
Superstock TT 8 |
Supersport 2 TT DNF |
TT Zero 2 |
Senior TT DNF | |
| 2015 | Superbike TT 5 |
Supersport TT 1 DNF | |||||
| 2014 | Superbike TT 6 |
Supersport TT 1 5 |
Superstock TT DNF |
Supersport TT 2 3 |
Senior TT DNF | ||
| 2013 | Superbike TT 9 |
Supersport TT 1 3 |
Supersport TT 2 4 |
Superstock TT 9 |
Senior TT 7 | ||
| 2012 | Superbike TT 6 |
Supersport TT 1 3 |
Superstock TT DNF |
Supersport TT 2 DNF |
Lightweight TT 6 |
Senior TT Cancelled | |
| 2011 | Superbike TT 7 |
Superstock TT 5 |
Supersport TT 2 DNF |
Senior TT 8 | |||
| 2010 | Superbike TT DNF |
Supersport TT 1 6 |
Superstock TT 16 |
Supersport TT 2 7 |
Senior TT DNF | ||
| 2009 | Ultra Lightweight 125 TT 4 |
Lightweight 250 TT DNF |
Superstock TT 11 |
Supersport TT 1 9 |
Supersport TT 2 DNF |
Superbike TT 12 |
Senior TT DNF |
| 2007 | Supersport TT DNF |
Senior TT 34 | |||||
| 2006 | Supersport TT 26 |
Senior TT 35 |
See also
References
- Supersport TT Race 1 Results IoM TT.com, Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- William Dunlop killed in crash at Skerries 100 road races BBC Sport Northern Ireland, 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018
- William Dunlop splits with Tyco BMW Bike Sport News, 6 October 2015, Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- William Dunlop confirms return to CD Racing for 2016 Bike Sport News, 3 November 2015, Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- MSS Performance back William Dunlop for 2016 IoM TT.com Retrieved 13 December 2015
- William Dunlop competitor profile IoM TT.com, Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- #1 IOM TT Website Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- Dunlop is delighted to take chance of a lifetime Belfast Telegraph Website 2009-11-09 Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- "Isle of Man TT: William Dunlop's crash takes joy out of Michael's win – BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". Belfasttelegraph. belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- "William Dunlop's Stellar Tandragee 100 – Road Racing News". roadracingnews.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- William Dunlop dies following Skerries accident RTÉ Sport, 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018
- "Tragic motorcyclist William Dunlop died after bike spilled oil over rear wheel". 17 July 2018.
- Memorial: Statue unveiled of tragic road-racer Dunlop in his native Ballymoney Belfast Telegraph, 26 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022
External links
- Isle of Man Database TT biography
- William Dunlop Racing Official Website