Joey was a factory rider for Honda Britain for 21 years. When Honda turned up with its first V4 endurance racers in 1983 on a trial basis, a few examples were also constructed for the British importer with a view to the TT Formula 1 WC and, of course, the legendary Tourist Trophy.

The races on the island had always had a special significance for Honda because the winged brand had started there in 1959 for the first time in an international race outside Japan and, two years later (with Mike Hailwood in the saddle), was able to win its first Grand Prix there too, in the 125cc and 250cc class. The garden behind the present Honda racing department (HRC) building in Asaka is even modelled after the TT course on the Isle of Man – an inspiring detail.

This year, Honda is celebrating its 50th anniversary in racing. In this context, we would like to mention that Honda has put together a comprehensive motor cycle racing documentary in English, lavishly illustrated with photographs. Everyone can view it on the Internet at www.world.honda.com.

In 1983, Joey Dunlop on the RS850R (with aluminium frame) took the first V4 win for Honda in the F1 race at the TT on their first attempt and established a new lap record on the 37.7-mile Mountain Course (just under 61 km) of 19 minutes, 33.6 seconds His race average over a total of six laps, from a standing start, was a breath-taking 114.04 mph, equal to 186.21 km/h. …. and he had to have a rear wheel changed in the pits. This was the prelude to a magnificent run for the Honda V4 rider: from 1983 to 1988, Joey Dunlop won the TT F1 event on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea six times in a row, and the TT F1 WC title five times as well.

Dunlop was a dominant figure in the golden age of Honda's V4 in racing. He piloted the early versions of the V4 race bikes, initially with a displacement of 860cc (858.5 to be precise) and later 920cc, to numerous successes, then, from 1988, various RVF factory machines as well as the production Honda VFR750R, alias the RC30, that was in turn derived from them. He did this both in road and closed circuit races in England, at appearances on the Endurance scene and in starts in the Superbike WC. Joey continued to earn victory laurels with the subsequent high-tech RC45 racing bike (with electronic fuel injection), the last time in 1995 in the Senior TT.

The years of success brought the unassuming sportsman remarkable popularity, but he remained withdrawn, almost shy in person. But once in the saddle of his motor bike, and particularly in road races, the five-time father, who started not only on large-displacement bikes but on numerous occasions in small-capacity classes as well, became larger than life. A natural talent and harmonious, fluid movements characterized his sensitive riding style, which home reporters sometimes described in a roundabout way with the flowery phrase “poetry in motion”.

Dunlop, who was involved in charitable work and was decorated by the Queen, never wanted to be a hero or be in the limelight. He wanted to ride in races and win, most of all on road courses. This passion was finally his downfall. William Joseph "Joey" Dunlop crashed fatally in July, 2000 on a 125cc, when rain started to fall, in a race in Tallinn, Estonia, at the age of 48. A section of the course on the Isle of Man is named after him today; there is a monument commemorating the rider in the yellow helmet, who was already a legend in his lifetime.   close