1. Stephen Robert Dunlop was a Northern Irish motorcycle racer, the younger brother of fellow road racer, the late Joey Dunlop, and the father of William Dunlop and Michael Dunlop.
16 Facts About Robert Dunlop
1. 2.
Robert Dunlop won the Macau Grand Prix in 1989 on a Honda 500, beating Phillip McCallen and Steve Hislop, both on Honda 750's.
3.
On short circuits Robert Dunlop notched one of the three MCN Supercup wins, the other two by Terry Rymer.
4.
Robert Dunlop notched a double in Ireland's North West 200 and finished third in the F1 Isle of Man TT.
5.
Robert Dunlop suffered multiple injuries and was lucky to have survived the high-speed crash.
6.
Many believed that Robert Dunlop's racing career was over, and he was left with severe tendon damage which restricted movement, and a shortened leg from the accident.
7.
Subject to severe insurance restrictions and costs due to his continual pain and deteriorating condition of his leg, and even questions in the Northern Ireland Assembly, on 16 December 2003 Robert Dunlop announced that he would quit motorcycle racing after the 2004 season.
8.
Robert Dunlop announced that he was hoping to win the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 before he quit, and that he intended to focus on his sons, William and Michael, and pass his motorcycling experience to them.
9.
Robert Dunlop continued racing until his retirement at the 2004 Isle of Man TT races.
10.
At the event, Robert Dunlop announced that he was shortly to enter hospital to have his injured leg broken and lengthened, an inevitable conclusion to his 1994 Isle of Man TT accident.
11.
Robert Dunlop announced if all went well, he would love to return to motorcycle racing in 2006, sponsored by Patsy O'Kane in a last hurrah.
12.
Robert Dunlop actually came back out of retirement during the 2005 road racing season.
13.
Robert Dunlop took his record-breaking 15th win at the 2006 North West 200 meeting.
14.
Robert Dunlop was taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine before succumbing to his injuries shortly after 22:00 local time.
15.
Robert Dunlop had been racing in the 250 cc class that year for the first time since the 1994 Isle of Man TT.
16.
Robert Dunlop's funeral took place on 18 May 2008 at Garryduff Presbyterian Church in his home town of Ballymoney.