Joey Dunlop

Twenty-six, from 102 starts between 1976 and 2000, with 41 podium finishes. It was the record for the event in his lifetime, and it included three hat-tricks, in 1985, 1988 and 2000.

He was killed on 2 July 2000 in Tallinn, Estonia, while leading a 125cc race on the Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa circuit. He had already won the 750cc and 600cc races that day. He lost control in wet conditions and died instantly on impact with trees at the side of the road. He was 48.

Because of his record on real-roads circuits rather than purpose-built tracks: 26 wins at the Isle of Man TT, 24 at the Ulster Grand Prix and 13 at the North West 200, over a career of a quarter of a century.

A quartet of road racers from Armoy in County Antrim who came to prominence in the 1970s — Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy, Mervyn Robinson and Joey’s brother Jim Dunlop.

For humanitarian work. He drove lorries of clothing and food to children’s orphanages in Romania himself, and was awarded the OBE for it in 1996, ten years after receiving the MBE for his services to motorcycle racing.

On the night of 23 May 1985 he was travelling to the TT from Strangford aboard the Tornamona, a former fishing boat carrying riders, machines and equipment, when currents drove it onto St Patrick’s Rock. The rudder broke off and the boat sank. All thirteen aboard were rescued by the Portaferry lifeboat and the bikes were recovered by divers. He won three TT races weeks later.

Yamahas early in his career, including the machine on which he won the 1977 Jubilee TT, and Hondas from 1981 to the end. Twenty of his 24 Ulster Grand Prix wins and eleven of his thirteen North West 200 wins came on Hondas.

The most successful rider at each TT receives the Joey Dunlop Cup, the 26th Milestone on the Mountain Course is named Joey’s, and a statue of him on a Honda overlooks the Bungalow bend at Snaefell. There are memorials in Ballymoney and at the crash site in Tallinn, and the Joey Dunlop Foundation provides accommodation for disabled visitors to the Isle of Man.

Yes. His brother Robert Dunlop died after a practice crash at the 2008 North West 200, and Robert’s sons Michael and William both raced; William died after a practice crash at the 2018 Skerries 100.