Robert Dunlop dies

[Lone Wolf]

LEGENDARY road racer Robert Dunlop has died following an accident at the North West 200.
Five times TT winner Robert died on Thursday evening after suffering severe chest injuries when crashing in the final practice for this weekend's North West 200.

Another Northern Ireland rider, Darren Burns, suffered a suspected broken leg and concussion in the incident, but is said to be stable in hospital.

The accident happened in the 250cc qualifying session as the riders approached the Mathers Cross section of the course.

Burns was following behind and was unable to avoid hitting the Ballymoney rider when it is believed Dunlop's 250 Honda seized at a speed approaching 160mph, throwing him over the handlebars.

He was rushed to the Causeway Hospital in nearby Coleraine, where he died from his injuries shortly after 10pm.

Robert Dunlop, 47, was the most successful rider in the history of the North West 200 with an unrivalled tally of 15 wins.

He made his Mountain Course debut in 1983 when he led home Steve Hislop and Ian Lougher in the 350cc Newcomers class of the Manx Grand Prix.

He moved up to the TT the following year and won his first of four 125cc Ultra Lightweight TTs in 1989. His brother Joey won the class a record number of five occasions, including 2000 just a month before he died in a racing crash in Estonia.

Robert Dunlop, who last raced the Mountain Course in 2004, was due to make his TT comeback in the 125cc race at Billown on June 7.

His two sons, William and Michael Dunlop, are both entered for the TT.

The legendary Ulsterman sustained serious injuries in a crash at Ballaugh in the 1994 Formula One TT and although he recovered from that incident and another nearer while testing in Northern Ireland, the restricted movement of his foot and ankle forced him to adapt to a thumb-operated brake lever and he rode only smaller capacity machines thereafter. This was his first ride on a 250cc at the North West 200 since 1994.

[SoundGuy]

R.I.P.

[Rossi]

RIP to another one of the Dunlop clan
Joey in 2000 and now this.......... my condolences to his wife & kids