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.

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). His best results at the Isle of Man TT saw him securing the third tier on the podium on four occasions with his best result being the runner up position in the 2016 TT Zero.

Until late 2015, Dunlop had raced for Tyco BMW Motorrad Racing, campaigning the BMW S1000RR and a Suzuki GSX-R600. The 2016 season saw him competing at the main International Road Races aboard a Yamaha YZF-R1 and Yamaha YZF-R6 in the Superbike and Supersport categories.

Dunlop campaigned a Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock machine, provided by a different team, during selected rounds of the British Championship.

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.

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.

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 and rounded the meeting off by taking victory in the Senior Open Race on the TAS BMW S1000RR.

Dunlop topped the Duke Road Racing Rankings in 2015 and therefore became the season's Champion and received the Geoff Duke Trophy, only two years apart from his younger brother Michael, who did so in 2013.

Dunlop sustained fatal head injuries on 7 July 2018 as a result of a crash during practice for the Skerries 100 Road Races in County Dublin. His Yamaha YZF-R1 bike spilled oil from the engine sump onto the back wheel, and as a result, Dunlop lost control and crashed into a ditch and trees at the Sam's Tunnel part of the circuit. 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.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)