OJ Inspiration: Joey Dunlop, the man who took over the TT.

William Joseph Dunlop born February 25, 1952 in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. He was passionate about racing from a young age and it was not until 1969, at the age of 17, that he bought his first motorcycle for £50, using the money he saved doing jobs as a carpenter, welder and truck driver. That same year, he made his racing debut, finishing fourth.

After working in his father's shop, he earned enough money to pursue his second career. After a fierce battle with his rivals in the high-speed Bultaco, he took second place.

From that year on he couldn't stop running, it became his way of life. Little by little he improved, achieving good results. First it was Triumph, then Suzuki, then Yamaha, but finally he became a Honda rider. He soon won most of Ireland's races.

In 1977 he achieved his first victory on the Isle of Man on a Yamaha. Since then, Joey and the Triumph Tourist formed a magical bond. Dunlop was impressed by the atmosphere, the challenge of the long, winding courses and the competitive spirit of these brave men.

In 1980 he won his second Triumph Tourist title and was adored by fans. Finally, in 1982, Honda acquired a world-class team in the United Kingdom. That same year, he won the Triumph Tourist F1 World Championship for five consecutive years.

The 70s were his best years: between 1983 and 1988 he won a total of 11 senior and junior Triumph Tourist Formula 1 races. However, in 1989 he was unable to take part in Triumph Tourist races due to injuries sustained in an accident at Brands Hatch. Since that year, he has had problems. However, in 1992 he won the 125cc category again in his home country.

Between 1992 and 1998, he won 10 races on the Isle of Man, all in minor categories except the last one in 1995. However, he did not have access to competition teams to demonstrate his talent. However, in 2000, Honda UK entrusted him with Aaron Slater's VTR SP01 as his motorcycle. At 48 years old, Joey continued to shine in the Tourist Trophy.

But just when Joey thought his luck had changed, a month later it was all over. During a race near Tallinn, Estonia, he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed fiercely into a tree, causing his death. The day before he had won the 600 cc category and a few hours before the fatal accident he had won the Superbike category.

More than 50,000 people from all over the world attended his funeral. This shows how much people loved him.