Exhibition celebrates Joey Dunlop's TT legacy

A pop-up display tells the story of the racing legend from Northern Ireland's final three TT wins.

The legacy of legendary motorcycle rider Joey Dunlop and his final hattrick of wins at the Isle of Man TT is being celebrated in an new pop-up exhibition.

The pop-up display is being held a quarter of a century after the 26-time TT winner was killed in an crash during a race in Estonia in July 2000.

On show in the Mercury Club near the grandstand throughout the Classic TT, it features his yellow helmet, race leathers, machines and trophies alongside the story of his final triumphs at the event.

His team-mate during those races, 23-times TT winner John McGuinness, said although it had been "a long time since we lost Joey" the Northern Irish rider was "definitely not forgotten".

The blue bodywork of a motorcycle sits on a silver frame. It features a black number 6 on an orange background.
Some memorabilia has been provided by John McGuinness, including Joey's bike fairing from his final TT [BBC]

Hosted by the organisers of the Classic TT until 29 August, the Joey Dunlop 2000 exhibit takes fans back to the week when the Ballymoney rider completed a hat-trick of wins in the Ultra Lightweight, Lightweight and Formula 1 races.

Visitors to the display can also watch footage from those competitions in a dedicated cinema space as well as seeing the bikes he rode to victory on up close.

Personal items such paddock passes, his personal tool box, and an unopened champagne bottle awarded to him that year also feature.

A yellow and black motorcycle helmet, with a black and white Arai logo on top. It is in a clear perspex box.
Joey's famous yellow helmet is one of a raft items on show at the Mercury Club [BBC]
Three sets of colourful leathers feature on mannequins. In front there are helmets in clear boxes. They stand in front of a black and white chequered backdrop, which also features a red and white Duke logo.
The leathers and helmets worn by all podium finishers in the 2000 Formula 1 race are on show [BBC]

A podium reenactment includes leathers and helmets worn by fellow 2000 podium finishers John McGuinness and Michael Rutter.

One of the special guests at the official opening, McGuinness said it had been "a bit emotional" to look at.

"I can feel the hairs standing up on the back of my neck because the superbike race in 2000 was so special," he said.

"They'd written the old man off, and he came out fighting that day."

He said he had been "dead proud" to be Joey's last team-mate and to provide some of memorabilia for the exhibition, including the fairing from Joey's bike from that final TT race.

"I just can't believe its 25 years," he added.

Dubbed the King of the Mountain for his success on the island, Dunlop also won five Formula One World Championship, and secures 24 Ulster Grand Prix victories and 13 North West 200 successes.

Peter Duke, from Duke Marketing who sponsored Joey's final race on the island, described the rider as a "complete legend and an icon of the TT".

"I would still say he is the most famous name associated with the TT of all time, even today."

A red motorcycle sits on a podium, you can see another behind it, and various other item such as the blue bodywork, the leathers, photographs and trophies. There are people sitting down watching a large screen in the background.
The machinery Joey rode on in 2000 can be seen at the exhibition [BBC]

Mr Duke said he remembered the racer as being "very quietly spoken, very modest, [with] not an ounce of brashness, even when he was a hero to millions of people".

"Of the gladiators of the TT he was the top man. We knew he was going to be a winner, and he was, culminating in three wins in one week at the age of 48," he said.

A host of people, including members of the Dunlop family and photographer Stephen Davison, contributed to the curation of the exhibition, which Classic TT organisers said showcased "the story of a man who never gave up".

Joey Dunlop's name remained "etched into the soul of the Isle of Man TT... not only for his 26 wins, but for how he raced - with humility, bravery and heart", they added.

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Category: General Sports