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
Dunlop at the North West 200
NationalityNorthern Irish
Born(1985-07-23)23 July 1985
Died7 July 2018(2018-07-07) (aged 32)
Motorcycle racing career statistics
250cc World Championship
Active years2009
ManufacturersHonda
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
1 0 0 0 0 0
Isle of Man TT career
TTs contested9 (2006–2007, 2009–2017)
TT wins0
Podiums6
Dunlop at the Sulby Straight, the fastest point on the Isle of Man TT course, riding a 600 Honda on his way to a podium finish in 2012 Supersport Race 1[1]

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 injuries as a result of a crash during practice for the 2018 Skerries 100 Road Races in County Dublin.[12]

Career statistics

By season
Season Class Motorcycle Team Number Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
2009 250cc Honda Bigman Racing 33 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0

Races by year
Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
2009 250cc Honda QAT JPN SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER GBR CZE IND RSM POR AUS MAL VAL
18		 NC 0

Complete TT record
Key
Podium finish
Place
DNF Did Not Finish
2016 TT Zero
2
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		 Classic 500 TT
DNF		 Classic 350 TT
DNF
2013 Superbike TT
9		 Supersport TT 1
3		 Supersport TT 2
4		 Superstock TT
9		 Senior TT
7		 Classic 500 TT
2		 Classic 350 TT
DNF
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 1
3		 Ultra Lightweight 125 TT 2
4		 Lightweight 250 TT 2
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
  1. Supersport TT Race 1 Results IoM TT.com, Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  2. William Dunlop killed in crash at Skerries 100 road races BBC Sport Northern Ireland, 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018
  3. William Dunlop splits with Tyco BMW Bike Sport News, 6 October 2015, Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  4. William Dunlop confirms return to CD Racing for 2016 Bike Sport News, 3 November 2015, Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  5. MSS Performance back William Dunlop for 2016 IoM TT.com Retrieved 13 December 2015
  6. William Dunlop competitor profile IoM TT.com, Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  7. #1 IOM TT Website Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  8. Dunlop is delighted to take chance of a lifetime Belfast Telegraph Website 2009-11-09 Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  9. "TT2014: William Dunlop released from hospital after crash in Senior race – Belfast Newsletter". newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  10. "Isle of Man TT: William Dunlop's crash takes joy out of Michael's win – BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  11. "William Dunlop’s Stellar Tandragee 100 – Road Racing News". roadracingnews.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  12. William Dunlop dies following Skerries accident RTÉ Sport, 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018
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