Page 46 - LHR Biker September 2025
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control on a turn and attempted A Fanbase United in Grief as an estimated forty-five
to ditch his bike. Unfortunately, and Glory thousand mourners descended on
Joey Dunlop, one of the greatest the town. Thousands walked
motorcycle racers in history, T h e J B 8 M C M f a n behind the hearse carrying
crashed into a tree and died movement—once a scattered Dunlop's coffin, heads bowed,
instantly. c o l l e c t i o n o f D u n l o p shoulders touching, hearts
devotees—has matured into a
aching.
d e e p l y c o n n e c t e d g l o b a l
A great athlete, a man of altruism “Even the air seemed to stop,”
and giving, was lost that day. It community. In 2025, they recalls local Ballymoney resident
was a sad day not for just Ireland gathered en masse at the Isle of Angela Keegan, who was a
and Brittan but the world abroad. Man TT not just for racing, but teenager at the time. “It wasn't
for remembrance.
just the racing world that lost
The History of Joey Dunlop: Wearing their distinctive black- him—it was like Ireland lost a
More Than Just a Motorcycle and-gold colours, emblazoned brother.”
Racer with the initials "JB8" and the
Joey Dunlop was absolutely one familiar number 3, thousands The image of the coffin, draped in
of the finest racers ever to hit the made the pilgrimage across the Dunlop's race colours, being
motorcycle circuit. But he was Irish Sea. Flags flew bearing wheeled through the narrow
much more than just a guy who Dunlop's silhouette mid-lean, streets, is etched in global
accumulated trophies and win e t c h e d a g a i n s t s u n r i s e s , motorcycle folklore. People stood
after win. He was a man who raceways, and the haloed ten-deep on kerbs, on lampposts,
gave back to the world and tried backdrop of the TT Mountain rooftops—anywhere they could
to make it a better place than C o u r s e . I t w a s n ' t j u s t a catch a final glimpse of the man
how he found it. tribute—it was a resurrection of who had given so much, and
memory. asked for so little.
Always staying close to his The MCM (Motorcycle Culture “I remember a man in his 70s
humble roots, he was able to be Movement) sector of the fanbase standing next to me crying like a
a great racer that little boys and transformed their paddock child,” Keegan continued. “He
girls the world over wished to be; presence into a rolling memorial. didn't say a word, just clutched a
he was also a kind, giving man Bikes were painted in Dunlop crumpled photo of Joey at the TT.
that, if ever one adopted his livery; helmets bore his name in That's the kind of hold he had on
charitable ways, we would no gothic script. Riders, old and people.”
doubt live in a much brighter young, shared tearful stories Legacy on the Mountain
world a r o u n d c a m p fi r e s a t Course
Quarterbridge and Ballaugh
Bridge, recounting moments they In the 2025 TT, riders continued
had seen him race or watched the to chase records, but many made
VHS tapes their fathers had kept it clear: this year was about
like holy scripture. tribute, not triumph.
“He was more than a racer,” said Leading the commemorations
Mick Taylor, a 58-year-old was none other than Michael
mechanic from Nottingham. “He Dunlop, Joey's nephew and now
was a working man's hero. A quiet the most decorated living Dunlop
giant. And every one of us is here on the course. With fire in his
veins and grief in his eyes,
to carry his memory forward.”
Michael delivered a masterclass
The Day the World Stopped: in controlled aggression, taking
Joey Dunlop's Funeral home two victories while riding a
Revisited custom-liveried Yamaha R1
painted in his uncle's racing
To truly grasp the magnitude of
Joey Dunlop's legacy, one only colours.
has to look back to that surreal, “I owe everything to Joey,” he
sorrow-drenched day in July told the press post-race. “If I win,
2000, when Ballymoney bore I win for him. If I lose, I still ride
witness to a modern-day funeral for him.”
unlike any other. The Dunlop name echoes louder
The streets, normally calm and than ever along Glencrutchery
slow-paced, became a sea of black Road. A memorial statue,
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LHR Biker Magazine October 2025
LHR Biker Magazine October2025
