Just Joey: The Joey Dunlop Story - Hardcover

Biography of the late Irish motorcycle racing legend, Joey Dunlop, who won a record 26 Isle of Man TT races over the famous road circuit, as well as a host of other titles, during a 30-year career.

Joey Dunlop, ‘Yer Man’, as he was affectionately known, was a racing legend, adored by the Irish people. Born and raised in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, Dunlop started racing in 1969 on a 199cc Tiger Cub for which he paid £50. It was the beginning of a passion that would rule his life.

He was never more at home than competing in the famous Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races. His mastery of this treacherous course was total, and his passion for success mirrored that of his fans. In 1998 he arrived having crashed in the 100-mile Tandragree road race, breaking his pelvis and collarbone. Still, there was a race to be won and Dunlop duly took the lightweight TT by a margin of 47 seconds. His first two TT victories came on Yamahas, but Honda would be the ally from 1983, the plain yellow helmet a beacon to the supporters who idolised the Irishman. In all he took the chequered flag in 26 TT races, until his tragic death on 2 July 2000 while racing in Estonia.

There were honours off the bike too. In 1986 he was awarded an MBE for services to motorcycling. That was followed 10 years later by an OBE in recognition of his efforts transporting food and medical supplies to Romanian orphanages.

The Author has blended archive material and freshly conducted interviews with Joey’s friends, family and racing peers like Steve Hislop, Carl Fogarty and Roger Marshall to produce this book. The result is a balanced, revealing and passionate account of a genuine sporting hero.

Joey Dunlop's name will be forever synonymous with one event. He won the celebrated Isle of Man Tourist trophy a staggering 26 times – the first victory came in the 1977 Jubilee Classic, the final three in June 2000. Less than a month later he was killed in a crash in an obscure track in Estonia.

'Just Joey' is a fascinating story of triumph and tragedy – of how an unknown and shy Ulster motorcycle road racer from the rural roads of County Antrim tamed the most treacherous road circuit in the world. During a glittering 30-year career, Joey was idolised by motorcycle fans the world over. Thousands flocked to pay tribute to their hero at his funeral in July 2000 and many still treat his grave as a shrine.

So what was there about this ordinary family man that gave him such enormous appeal? Why was Joey still racing at 48 years of age when he had nothing left to prove? What fire burned within him to help keep him going? Certainly his grit and determination knew no bounds and his passion for racing mirrored that of hi fanatical supporters: in 1989 Joey arrived at the TT on crutches and ready to race, but the organisers refused.

He scorned thoughts of retirement and, in later years, while still racing, turned his hand to humanitarian causes. He was awarded an OBE in 1996 in honour of his efforts transporting food and medical supplies to Romanian orphanages. He drove a van with a trailer all the way to Eastern Europe and back again – on his own.

The author has blended archive material and freshly conducted interviews with Joey's friends, family and racing peers like Steve Hislop, Ron Haslam and Carl Fogarty to produce this book. The result is a balanced, revealing and passionate account of a genuine sporting hero.