Robert Dunlop
Not my own words....but words as reported in The Belfast Telegraph...
Ulster road racing legend Robert Dunlop has died following a high speed crash during a practice session at the North West 200 on Thursday night.
The accident happened during the 250cc qualifying session early yesterday evening.
It is believed the 47-year-old was travelling at 160mph as he approached the Mathers Cross Section of the course.
Witnesses say the current 125cc Irish champion, who was racing in the 250cc class for the first time since his crash in the Isle of Man in 1994, was thrown over the handlebars after it appeared his bike seized.
He was rushed to the Causeway Hospital near Coleraine with severe chest injuries, but died shortly after 10pm.
The is second tragedy to strike the Dunlop family.
In 2000, Robert's brother Joey was killed in a racing accident in Estonia.
Dunlop son wins NW200 race for dad
'I had to do it for him. I am so proud'
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The son of the late Robert Dunlop has won the first race at the North West 200, just two days after the death of his father on the same circuit.
Michael Dunlop, 20, won the 250cc race, dedicating the victory to his father.
"I had to do it for him. I am so proud.
"It's my dad's home circuit and he was the best round here," said an emotional Michael to the BBC.
Michael had a tough race against Christian Elkin and John McGuinness during the race before coming through in the final lap to secure his first North West win.
Robert's other son, William, had also planned to take part in the race but was forced to drop out due to mechanical failure.
Robert Dunlop will be laid to rest near his legendary brother Joey in a tiny Co Antrim rural graveyard tomorrow.
Tens of thousands of mourners, many of whom will attend the North West 200 today, are expected to flood the small village of Garryduff to pay their last respects to the sporting great who died tragically on Thursday night following a high speed crash during a practice lap of the North West race.
The father-of-three, who holds the record for the most wins at the event, sustained serious chest injuries after he was thrown from his bike after it seized as he approached Mather's Cross.
It is believed he had been travelling up to 160mph. Mechanical failure is being blamed for the crash.
His funeral is due to take place at the Garryduff Presbyterian Church at 4pm — a day after the big final race of the North West 200.
Despite, losing her beloved husband to the event, Robert's grieving wife Louise gave her blessing for the race to go ahead today with organisers saying it would be a fitting tribute to the 47-year-old.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, a devastated Louise spoke of how the " light had gone out" in her life as motorbike fans across the world also struggled to come to terms with the death of the legend.
"The lights have gone out for us," she explained.
"Nothing will ever be the same.
"Robert would never give up racing. He loved it and he regarded himself as having been a man with two careers. When he had a major accident in 1994 in the Isle of Man he pulled himself together and decided to race on despite the fact that physically he wasn't the same man."
Louise added: "I love horses and I was at the Balmoral Show along with Robert yesterday, but he couldn't wait to get away to race at the North West 200.
"It was his life. But at the same time he knew it would eventually kill him.
"It's not being dramatic to say he had a premonition of death.
That's not strictly true. But he was aware that the longer he continued to race the more chance there was of a serious accident. But he was prepared to accept the risk.
"He had to be in the thick of it himself. That was just his way."
The tragedy echoes the death of his brother, the legendary Joey Dunlop, who died during a race in Estonia eight years ago.
Clerk of the Course Mervyn Whyte said that, following consultation with the Dunlop family, today's racing would go ahead.
He said: "We have taken the decision to proceed with tomorrow's North West 200 which, we believe, will be a fitting tribute to Robert Dunlop.
"Before making this decision I spoke to Robert's widow Louise and sponsors and they have given their full support.
"Robert Dunlop was a wonderful ambassador for the North West 200 and for Northern Ireland and we believe he would have wished the event to go ahead.
"Robert was a wonderful ambassador for the NW200 and for Northern Ireland and we believe he would have wished the event to go ahead.
"Robert will be remembered with great fondness by all who knew him. His presence, sense of humour, enthusiasm and love for life will be sorely missed.
"Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with Louise, Roebrt's sons Michael, William and Daniel and the wider family circle.
"Our thoughts are also with Darren Burns who was injured Thursday night. "
Mr Whyte said initial investigations pointed to mechanical failure as a likely cause of the crash.
He said: "He didn't go off the road. I was at the scene within a couple of minutes and the medical personnel did their usual brilliant job in working with him."
He said a more extensive investigation would also take place.
When asked what the loss meant to him personally, Mr Whyte said: " Robert himself was a great ambassador for the NW, very enthusiastic and always had a good sense of humour. If he had something to say to me he would say it."
Alastair Kennedy, from Kennedy International which sponsors the North West, said that they respected the wishes of the organisers and the family and backed the race going ahead.
"The best tribute for Robert is to put on an even bigger and better show than we have done before.
"That's what he would have wished."
On this long storm the rainbow rose
By
Emily Dickinson
On this long storm the rainbow rose,
On this late morn the sun;
The clouds, like listless elephants,
Horizons straggled down.
The birds rose smiling in their nests,
The gales indeed were done;
Alas! how heedless were the eyes
On whom the summer shone!
The quiet nonchalance of death
No daybreak can bestir;
The slow archangel's syllables
Must awaken her.
