William Dunlop

William Dunlop (23 July 1985 – 7 July 2018) was a professional motorcycle racer from Northern Ireland. Part of a motorcycle racing dynasty, William was the elder brother of Michael Dunlop; both were sons of the late Robert Dunlop, and nephews of the late Joey Dunlop. He died as a result of a crash during practice for the Skerries 100 road races in County Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

Career Dunlop started racing 125 cc bikes in 2000 when he was 15 years old. During his racing career, he accumulated 108 Irish National Road Race wins.

Dunlop also achieved numerous victories at two of Ireland's prestigious road racing events, the North West 200 (4) and the Ulster Grand Prix (7).

Dunlop competed in eleven TT race seasons between 2006 and 2017, with a second place and four third places being his best results, in the 125 cc, SuperSport and Classic races. He won two races at the North West 200 with his first victory being in the 2009 250 cc event. 2009 also saw Dunlop take part in the last ever 250cc Grand Prix race at Valencia finishing 18th on a P J Flynn Bigman Racing Honda.

2014 Dunlop crashed his Tyco Suzuki Superbike in the final race of the week at the 2014 Isle of Man TT, during the Senior TT event. He led the race on time briefly during the first lap, but ran wide through the Graham Memorial corner on the mountain section on the third lap, running off the road up against the adjacent embankment, resulting in two fractures to his left leg.

2015 Dunlop won two races at a rain-soaked Tandragee 100. In the Supersport Class, Dunlop put in a very convincing performance on board the CD Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 In 2023, a jury at the inquest into Dunlop's death returned a verdict of misadventure.

Dunlop's funeral was held on 11 July at Garryduff Presbyterian Church near his hometown of Ballymoney. Following the service, he was buried alongside his father, Robert, in the church’s graveyard.

On 25 February 2022, a statue of Dunlop was unveiled in the Memorial Gardens in Ballymoney, where it now stands, along with memorials to his father, Robert, and uncle, Joey.

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season SeasonClassMotorcycleTeamNumberRaceWinPodiumPoleFLapPtsPlcd 250cc Honda Bigman Racing 33 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC Total 1 0 0 0 0 0

Races by year Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points 2009 250cc Honda QAT JPN SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER GBR CZE INP RSM POR AUS MAL VAL18 NC 0

British 125 Championship Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos Pts 2010 Honda BRH6 THR5 OUL10 CAD7 MAL17 KNOC SNE BRH CAD CRO CRO SIL OUL 17th 36

British Supersport Championship Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Pts R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 2011 Honda BRH BRH OUL OUL CRO CRO THR THR KNO KNO SNE SNE OUL OULC BRH BRH CAD CAD DON DON SIL22 SIL17 BRH BRH BRH NC 0

British Superbike Championship (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Pts R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 Yamaha DON DON BHI BHI OUL OUL SNE SNE KNO KNO BHGP BHGP THR THR CAD CAD SIL SIL SIL OUL OUL ASS ASS BHGP BHGP BHGP NC 0

Complete TT record

2018 Superbike TT DNF 2017 Superbike TT 9 Supersport 1 TT 4 Superstock TT 7 Senior TT 10 2016 Superbike TT DNF Supersport 1 TT 7 Superstock TT 8 Supersport 2 TT DNF TT Zero 2 Senior TT DNF 2015 Superbike TT 5 Supersport TT 1 DNF 2014 Superbike TT 6 Supersport TT 1 5 Superstock TT DNF Supersport TT 2 3 Senior TT DNF 2013 Superbike TT 9 Supersport TT 1 3 Supersport TT 2 4 Superstock TT 9 Senior TT 7 2012 Superbike TT 6 Supersport TT 1 3 Superstock TT DNF Supersport TT 2 DNF Lightweight TT 6 Senior TT Cancelled 2011 Superbike TT 7 Superstock TT 5 Supersport TT 2 DNF Senior TT 8 2010 Superbike TT DNF Supersport TT 1 6 Superstock TT 16 Supersport TT 2 7 Senior TT DNF 2009 Ultra Lightweight 125 TT 4 Lightweight 250 TT DNF Superstock TT 11 Supersport TT 1 9 Supersport TT 2 DNF Superbike TT 12 Senior TT DNF 2007 Supersport TT DNF Senior TT 34 2006 Supersport TT 26 Senior TT 35