6 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Emotional tribute to great Joey Dunlop ‘brought a tear' to my eye, admits former team-mate
English rider Marshall was one of Joey's toughest rivals in the 1980s when they were Honda team-mates from 1983 to 1986.
They regularly battled for race wins at the international road races and fought it out to be crowned TT Formula 1 world champion in 1984, with Joey coming out on top at the final round after Marshall's hopes were ended by machine trouble.
Marshall missed the 'Joey 25' Celebration Day in Ballymoney in May due to prior commitments, but he jumped at the chance to attend the final official events at Bishopscourt marking 25 years since Joey's tragic death in a racing incident in Estonia.
For what will likely be the final time, many of Joey's ex-racing machines were paraded around the track together, with 23-time TT winner John McGuinness riding the Ulsterman's iconic Honda RC45.
Other famous names present over the weekend included Niall Mackenzie, Jamie Whitham, Ian Simpson, Brian Reid, Ryan Farquhar, Alan Irwin, Mike Swann, Phillip McCallen, Michael Rutter and British Superbike stars Kyle Ryde, Danny Kent and Storm Stacey.
Marshall said: 'First of all, I was really upset that I missed Joey's 25th in Ballymoney but Linda fully understood.
'To come to this meeting and stand on the grid with all these old bikes and the tribute that people are giving him brings a tear to your eye.
'It was an honour to be his team-mate for four years and be one of his biggest rivals.
'He was the most unusual person I've ever had as a team-mate but, when we were on the tracks, he was probably one of the hardest men on his day that I've ever seen in my life.
'I learned a lot on the roads, especially at Dundrod, by following him – that's when you learn from masters.'
McCallen, who co-organises the festival, said he was delighted that the final day was attended by Joey's wife Linda, with son Gary and daughter Joanne also present over the weekend.
'It's unbelievable and some of these bikes are 40 years old, and we're riding around here,' said the Portadown man.
'This is the last time something like this is going to happen. We'll never, ever see all of these Joey Dunlop bikes again on any grid or any place at the one time.
'This event is so precious and Linda is here today, Gary's here, Joanne is here, so it's something that we will treasure forever.
'For all the bikes to get around safe and be back here on the grid is an achievement in itself, and we don't need any more than that to make it the best success.'
In addition to the parade laps, classic bike displays and entertainment, a full programme of classic and modern racing was held.
BSB frontrunner Kent won both Open Invitation races on the McAMS Yamaha, twice beating Ulster Superbike champion Jonny Campbell (155 Racing BMW).
Stacey, who rides for Rutter's AJB Bathams Racing Team on a BMW in the British Superbike Championship, was third in each race on a 600 Yamaha.
Richard Cooper (BPE Yamaha) held off Stacey (Steve Foster Cranes Yamaha) by a tenth of a second to win the opening Supersport race, completing a double following a win in Saturday's race.
The Nottingham man had to settle for second best in the final Supersport race, with Stacey getting the verdict by 0.3s.
BSB champion Ryde (TZ250 Yamaha) won all three GP250 races and raised the lap record in the class to 92.503mph (1:10.986) on a special weekend at the Co Down venue.
