Watched Robert win at the NW200 in his comeback after his last crash nearly killed him. I have never heard a roar from the crowd like it when he crossed the finish line. 120,000 people going absolutely mental. The whole Dunlop family are just inspiring characters, and the loss of both Joey and now Robert is desperately sad news.
I know people say he died doing what he loved and that is very true but I bet he would have rather gone on his 105 birthday in bed with his 19year old Swedish model girlfriend. I am not particuarly sentimental and although it is very sad when anyone dies, rider or not, I am fairly pragmatic about it because, well, thats life really, but when I heard about Robert I was absolutely gutted. Not only because I really admired him but also for the thousands of people idolised him on the road racing scene. People say he was always in Joeys shadow but if you ever went to Ireland to watch him road racing then you would see that isnt true.
As testament to the Dunlops, his son, Michael, actually won the 250cc race. He has gone the same way that many many racers have gone, Yerman Joey, Dave Jeffries, Steve Hislop, Barry Sheene, Norik Abe, and many many others.
Theres a short little video on the NW200 website
BBC Northern Ireland - North West 200
showing the little man in action.
RIP Robert.