Joey Dunlop: Event programme announced for special celebration to honour Ulster road racing legend
The 26-time Isle of Man TT winner and five-time Formula One motorcycling world champion died in a racing crash in Estonia on July 2, 2000.
Multiple World Superbike champions Carl Fogarty and Jonathan Rea will headline a star-studded line-up of 25 riders who will be in attendance to celebrate the life of one of Ulster's greatest ever sporting ambassadors.
Held in conjunction with Joey's family, a host of British Superbike riders, former teammates, rivals and friends will take part in the Joey 25 parade through the town centre in a closed road event, riding 25 of his original racing bikes on Saturday, May 24.
Phillip McCallen, formerly a fierce rival of Joey's, said the chance to participate in the parade on one of his famous machines was 'an honour'.
'Obviously he was my team-mate and he was my rival at times, but he was never my enemy – it's just there was very stiff opposition because Joey was the benchmark for road racing and the benchmark around the world,' said Portadown man McCallen, speaking at the recent Joey 25 launch at Ballymoney Museum.
'If you beat Joey Dunlop or raced against Joey Dunlop you were some boy, and I was very lucky to become a friend of Joey's.
'I did beat him a few times but one thing you could say about Joey was that if there was five races in a day at the North West, 'Ulster', TT or wherever, Joey picked his race and he won it and you weren't going to be him in that race.
'He was just remarkable and for us to get the honour of riding one of his ex-racing machines – that just wouldn't happen normally because the people who own those machines are so proud of them and look after them so much.
'To represent the riders and the community for Joey Dunlop is an honour.'
Six-time World Superbike champion Rea echoed McCallen's sentiments, describing Joey as one of his 'heroes' when he was a young boy.
The factory Yamaha WSBK rider said: 'I am honoured to be on board one of Joey Dunlop's machines at this celebration event in his home town.
'Joey was a hero of mine growing up and he inspired so many riders from this country, including me, to achieve our dreams.'
Event Programme
Joey Dunlop Original Bike Exhibition: 1pm-10pm at Joey's Bar (Fan Zone 3)
Meet The Riders and Entertainment: 2pm-6pm at Dalriada School (Fan Zone 2)
Food Village with Joey Display: 1pm-10pm at Townhead Street Car Park (Fan Zone 1)
Joey Dunlop 25 Exhibition: Open daily from May 1 (9am-5pm) at Ballymoney Museum
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Reuters
F1 leader Piastri stays positive amid damage limitation talk
MONTREAL, June 14 (Reuters) - Formula One leader Oscar Piastri stayed hopeful after a qualifying session that had McLaren boss Andrea Stella talking of damage limitation in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix. The Australian will start from third on the grid with teammate Lando Norris, 10 points behind in the standings after nine of 24 races, back in seventh. Mercedes' George Russell took pole position and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, winner for the past three years, joined him on the front row in a repeat of 2024's qualifying top two at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. "Our pace on race days is generally where we're strong," Piastri, winner of five races this season and bidding to become the first Australian to take six in a single campaign, told a news conference. "These two next to me were very quick in the race runs yesterday, so it's certainly not going to be a slam dunk win, but I think we're definitely in the fight." The session, a gift for those talking up bad blood between Russell and Verstappen after a headline clash in Spain between the pair, left McLaren off the pace for once in a scrappy session. It was the first time Mercedes had taken pole this season. "The picture changes completely for the race, that's what we have to focus on," Stella told Sky Sports television. "I think in terms of race pace we should be a bit more comfortable but let's see. This weekend could be one of damage limitation." Norris will certainly have a battle on his hands to get onto the podium. "(I made) a couple of big mistakes, one hitting the wall on the last lap on the exit of turn seven and also the first lap at the final corner. Mistakes that cost me," he said. "We have not been as quick as usual, and it was maybe not the car to take pole position, but it should have been enough for the top three. "It is a very easy track to push 1% too much, and pay the price, and that's what happened today. A podium will be tough because we don't have the pace we have had of the past few races."
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Reuters
Verstappen fed up with talk of race bans and penalty points
MONTREAL, June 14 (Reuters) - Max Verstappen showed his irritation with questions about penalty points and race bans after qualifying on the front row for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix alongside old foe George Russell. Mercedes' Russell took pole position for the second year in a row with Red Bull's Verstappen, who is chasing a fourth successive Canadian victory, second fastest. The race will be the first since the Formula One rivals collided in Spain, an incident that left Verstappen one penalty point away from a mandatory ban. Asked about "the penalty points thing" at a post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen -- who is third in the championship with Russell fourth -- did not hold back. "I don't need to hear it again. It's really pissing me off. I mean, you were speaking about it on Thursday. It's such a waste of time. It's very childish," he said. "So, that's why I also don't want to say too much because it's really annoying, this world that we live in." Verstappen acknowledged after Spain that he made a mistake in driving into Russell, an incident stemming from frustration at having to hand back a place, but the topic has followed him to Canada. With the pair lining up alongside each other, the paddock was full of discussion about what might happen on the short run down to the first corner in Sunday's race. The pair could never be described as good friends, the bad blood between them laid bare at last year's Abu Dhabi season-ender when they publicly traded accusations of bullying and lying. Russell joked on Saturday that he had fewer penalty points on his super-licence, and therefore more room to play with, but seriously did not expect any real advantage. "I don't think any driver goes out looking to crash into somebody and get penalty points on your licence. Max is one of the best drivers," he said. "There's no reason for him to race any differently, and I'm not sitting here thinking he's going to give us more room. If anything, probably the opposite to try and prove a point. "Ultimately, we're all here to win. You're not going to do something that's going to jeopardise yourself from the race. It's a busy season as well. If you get a race ban, you get a race ban and spend some time at home."
The Guardian
8 hours ago
- The Guardian
Russell pips Verstappen and Piastri to Canadian F1 GP pole as Norris struggles
George Russell put his Mercedes on pole position in Canada for the second year in a row, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen alongside on the front row. Oscar Piastri, McLaren's Formula One championship leader qualified third, with the Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in fourth place. Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate and closest title rival only 10 points behind the Australian, qualified seventh at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. More to follow
