[Ducati] Dunlop killed in road race crash

[T]

*One of Northern Ireland's best known motorcyclists has been killed in a 
high speed crash at the North West 200.*

Robert Dunlop, 47, suffered severe chest injuries at a practice session 
near Portrush in County Antrim on Thursday. He died later in hospital.

Dunlop had been riding a specially adapted bike after he returned to 
racing following an horrific crash at the Isle of Man TT in 1994.

His brother, Joey, was killed in a racing accident in Estonia in 2000.

Thursday's accident happened in the 250cc qualifying session. The riders 
had been travelling at speeds of about 160mph as they approached the 
Mathers Cross section of the course.

Dunlop's bike appeared to seize and he went over the handlebars.

The Ballymoney man was rushed to the Causeway Hospital in nearby 
Coleraine, where he died from his injuries shortly after 2200 BST.

His sons, Michael and William, had been taking part in the North West 200.


	

Another Northern Ireland rider, Darren Burns, suffered a suspected 
broken leg and concussion in the same accident.

Burns was following behind and was unable to avoid hitting the 
Ballymoney rider. He is said to be stable in hospital.

A colleague, Denver Robb, was behind both motorcyclists when the 
accident happened.

"Coming up to Mathers (Cross), Burns was leading and I was second, just 
sitting in his slipstream," he said.

"Then Robert - it was one of the Dunlops - came past me and as soon as 
he did he just shot off into Mathers and the bike seized.

"There was a puff of smoke and the bike locked up, she went sideways, 
and I think Robert must have grabbed the front brake.



"He went out over the top of the bike and landed on the road. Then 
Burnsy had nowhere to go and he clipped him and he went straight on."

Dunlop made his debut on the Northern Ireland roads as a teenager in 
1979 and went on to claim his first major win in the Isle of Man in 1983 
when he won the Newcomers 350cc race at the Manx Grand Prix.

The remainder of the 1980s saw him becoming a regular winner on the 
Northern Ireland road racing scene.

1989 proved a hugely successful year, which included his first Isle of 
Man TT win.

His last major international road race win came when he won the 125cc 
event at the North West 200 in 2006.

Tributes to the motorcycling ace have been pouring in from all sections 
of the community in Northern Ireland.

Liam Beckett, Dunlop's long-time mechanic and a close friend, said: "I 
don't know of a more caring and devoted father - he just lived for his 
family.

"They are a unique and resilient family, and to be honest they were in 
pieces last night."

Mervyn White, Clerk of the Course at the North West 200, said: "This was 
an accident which appears at the present time to be machine failure.

"It could have happened anywhere at all, it could have happened on the 
open road."

First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness 
said they were deeply saddened by the death.

Northern Ireland Sports Minister Edwin Poots said: "Robert was a much 
loved respected and talented member of the motorsport community and will 
be missed by all."

The Motor Cycling Union of Ireland and PSNI are investigating the incident.

Dunlop is also survived by his wife Louise and other son Daniel.