OJ Inspiration: Joey Dunlop, o homem que assumiu o TT.

William Joseph Dunlop was born on February 25, 1952, in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. Infatuated by bullfights from a young age, it was only in 1969, at the age of 17, that he bought his first motorcycle for 50 pounds, like the money he saved by working as a carpenter, welder and truck driver. That same year, he debuted in the bullfights, finishing in fourth place.

After working in the country office, he earned enough money to participate in his second run. After a tight battle with six rivals at fast Bultaco, he finished in second.

That day, he couldn't stop running anymore; Turn your lifestyle. Few years, he did well, achieving good results. First, he piloted a Triumph, then Suzuki, then Yamaha, but finally he became a Honda pilot. Logo, won most of the runs in Ireland.

In 1977, he won his first victory on the Ilha de Man with a Yamaha. From now on, Joey and Triumph Tourist form a magical bond. Dunlop was impressed with the atmosphere, or challenged two long and winding courses with the competitive spirit of these brave homens.

In 1980, he won his second title Triumph Tourist and was adored hairs fãs. Finally, in 1982, Honda acquired a first-line team in the United Kingdom. Not the same year, he won the F1 World Championship Triumph Tourist for five consecutive years.

The 1970s were his best era: between 1983 and 1988, he won a total of 11 runs Triumph Tourist of Formula 1, in the senior and junior categories. However, in 1989, he could not compete in the bullfights Triumph Tourist due to injuries suffered in an accident at Brands Hatch. Since that year, I have faced difficulties. Then, in 1992, he won the 125cc category again in his native country.

Between 1992 and 1998, he won 10 bullfights on the Ilha de Man, all in lower categories, except for the final in 1995. However, he did not have access to bullfighting teams to show his talent. In 2000, Honda UK trusted Aaron Slater's VTR SP01 as its motorcycle. At 48 years old, Joey continued to shine in the Tourist Trophy.

But when Joey thought that his fortune had changed, one more time later everything ended. During a race outside Tallinn, in Estonia, he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a tree violently, killing himself. Not the day before, he had won the 600cc category and, a few hours before his fatal accident, he had won the Superbike category.

More than 50.000 people from around the world will appear at his funeral, a proof of how many people he loved.