Tourist Trophy – Mourning: William Dunlop was killed on Saturday during the Skerries 100 –

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Mourning: William Dunlop was killed on Saturday during the Skerries 100

Tourist Trophy - Mourning: William Dunlop was killed on Saturday during the Skerries 100 -

Northern Irish motorcycle rider William Dunlop passed away on Saturday evening. The quiet but quick brother of Michael, son of Robert and nephew of Joey was killed during testing of the Skerries 100 race near Dublin (Ireland). MNC salutes the great pilot and the super dad. Jonathan Rea too…

“William lost his life doing what he loves most,” says his Yamaha Temple Golf Club team, “but that doesn’t make reality any easier to accept and we’re sure it won’t be any comfort. for Janine (his partner), Ella (his two year old daughter) and the Dunlop family "… who have already paid a heavy price in road racing.

Eighteen years after his legendary uncle Joey, and ten years after his father Robert, William Dunlop died from a fall on his motorcycle. This took place last Saturday evening, during testing of the Skerries 100, a race of the same type as the Tourist Trophy, organized every first weekend of July in County Dublin..

Tourist Trophy - Mourning: William Dunlop was killed on Saturday during the Skerries 100 -

The big brother of Michael Dunlop was to celebrate his 33 years on July 23, and was expecting a happy event with Janine … It was also to stay with his friend whose pregnancy was complicated that William had drawn a line on its participation in the Tourist Trophy 2018.

"Janine and I are expecting a second baby, but unfortunately we received terrible news during our 20 week ultrasound and we were referred to a specialist," wrote the super pilot dad.

"While I was on the Isle (of Man, preparing for the races of the 99th Tourist Trophy, Editor’s note), Janine had to take care of everything herself and during my absence, she went herself to appointments at the hospital for scanners ", illustrated William, himself just recovered from a fall at the North West 200.

"I didn’t have the head to run, my thoughts were always on what was going on at home. My family will always come first, so I made the decision to go home", explained the reasonable (? !) road racing driver.

Tourist Trophy - Mourning: William Dunlop was killed on Saturday during the Skerries 100 -

"We received positive news this weekend and everything now seems normal. After months of uncertainty, we finally feel that we can take advantage of this period and welcome a new arrival," finally reassured the native of Ballymoney (North Ireland).

His team who had naturally accepted the package of his n ° 6, is all the more devastated by his death: "We cannot even imagine what the family is going through, our thoughts and our prayers are of course with them all and with all of our team and sponsors at this difficult time. William was a gentleman in every sense of the word and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him, "she said..

The Show Must Go On

"After discussions with the family, their sponsors and the other riders, the Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club made the decision to keep the Skerries 100 on July 8" we learned a few hours after the tragic disappearance of No.6 Dunlop.

"With the permission of the runners, the club has decided to pay the full award to William‘s family. This event will not count towards the championship, and the club hope that everyone will see this as a fitting tribute to William, to his previous performance and results in the race ".

Tourist Trophy - Mourning: William Dunlop was killed on Saturday during the Skerries 100 -

Robert’s son had won 15 races in previous Skerries 100. In 18 years of competition, he had won 108 national road races (Irish!), To which are added four successes in the international North West 200 and seven at the Ulster Grand Prix.

But like the star Guy Martin, the much more discreet and no less respectable William Dunlop has never won a race in the Tourist Trophy … unlike his little brother Michael who won there 18 times, including three times this year.

Tourist Trophy - Mourning: William Dunlop was killed on Saturday during the Skerries 100 -

Particularly swift on small and medium-displacement motorcycles, William was still four times on the "TiTi" podium: three times in Supersport (2012, 2013 and 2014) and once in 125 cc (2009). He also finished second in the 500 cc Classic race in 2014, and also second in the electric TT Zero race in 2016..

Touched like many by this tragic disappearance, Jonathan Rea was keen to dedicate his – magnificent disputed bus – second victory in Misano this Sunday to his compatriot. Site for its part, associates itself with the pain of his family and loved ones. RIP, William Dunlop.

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