I love the greatest driver of all time debate.. One day, I will make a series of articles about it, because with several riders who can claim it, the discussion is lively. Obviously, for track races with powerful motorcycles, we refer to MotoGP, the queen discipline. But if the GOAT (Greatest of all time) had never played on the world circuit? In any case, Joey Dunlop ticks all the boxes.
The Dunlop family has been making waves in the Tourist Trophy for decades, and Joey's nephew, Michael, is the new winner. A quick refresher for those new to the race: The TT is a legendary race, held annually on the Isle of Man, a small, self-contained dependency located between England and Northern Ireland. It has been held on a circuit of over 60 km, laid out on the roads, since 1907. For some, Joey Dunlop is a god, a diamond in the rough. There are even some who say they saw him fly, as the other one would say.. Actually, it was a bit of all of that.
The yellow helmet, his signature.
Today we're talking about a great guy who eats at the table of Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, or Mike Hailwood. Joey, by his reserved nature, embodied something special. That little something that made him more alive, "like us." Between 1976 and 2000, he skimmed the Snaefell Mountain Course. Three times he achieved the Junior-Formula-Senior triple, the three biggest categories of yesteryear. He mastered every corner, every bump. Gave the impression of soaring above the track, constantly on the attack.
There is so much to say. His popularity in the motorcycling world undoubtedly exceeded that of the names mentioned above. Winner of the Tourist Trophy in 26 times (24th at the Ulster Grand Prix), he is unanimously considered the greatest legend of his sport, and even if his nephew has now surpassed him in the prize list, Joey's aura remains intact. John McGuinness, one of his "students" and another sacred monster of the mountain, declared in 2017: "If I were to reach 26 wins, I would stop. I wouldn't want to exceed that."
Imagine such a scenario in MotoGPOnce the leather fell, the Northern Irishman became calm, reserved and smiling. During his lifetime, he contributed enormously to the plight of orphans in the Balkans, a cause close to his heart.His association still exists today, refocused on the Isle of Man. That's also what greatness is all about.
Here at the 1992 TT.
You may have guessed it: Joey is no longer with us today. A serious accident during an obscure race in Estonia, and then nothing. The funeral was particularly touching. Like Ayrton Senna, we were all for Dunlop. More than 50 people marched through Garryduff that day. The Biker had just died.
Greatness is not defined solely by track record, or even level. It is above all the recognition by one's peers and the aura one exudes that makes one great. On this point, Michael may never be able to catch up with him.
"There's a green blur, and a gray blur. I try to stay on the gray blur."
Do you consider Joey Dunlop one of the greatest drivers of all time? Tell me in the comments!
