Tragic Dunlop's final lap
Thousands turn out to mourn legendary racing star
His sons William and Michael carry him to his final resting place yesterday
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THOUSANDS of motorbike riders and fans from across the world yesterday said farewell to tragic racing star Robert Dunlop at his funeral service in Co Antrim.
The 47-year-old champion biker, who died on Thursday after a 260kmh crash during practice for the North West 200 event at Portrush, was laid to rest only yards from his legendary brother Joey, who also lost his life on the racetrack.
Addressing family and friends inside Garryduff Presbyterian church and the thousands listening outside, the Reverend John Kirkpatrick said: "For me it is not racing that defines Robert, but the man that he was.
'Believed'
"He believed that you should do something with your life. He was always at something."
Ahead of the service, the cortege made its way from the family home and through his native Ballymoney.
Along the full length of the route mourners stood in reverent silence as the coffin passed by in dazzling sunshine.
Bikers distinctive in their racing leathers mixed alongside local people in more traditional funeral attire.
Among the mourners were the North's First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Inside the church, the Rev Kirkpatrick, who is chaplain for the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland, recalled his last conversation with the Ballymoney rider only moments before he set off on that fateful last lap.
"He smiled one of those wide and endearing smiles," he said.
"We had a brief moment and I said, 'I see you're on the front row again', to which he replied, 'only for a little while'."
During the service, Mr Dunlop's widow Louise was comforted by the couple's three sons Michael, William and Daniel.
The Rev Kirkpatrick praised the bravery of the family and said the decision of Michael and William to take part in yesterday's North West 200, with Michael winning the day's first race, was typical of the spirit that defined their father.
"We live in a world where not many people finish what they start or push themselves to their potential and this makes those such as Robert stand out from the crowd,'' he said.
The minister, who also spoke at Joey Dunlop's funeral after he was killed in a race in Estonia eight years ago, said the motorcycling world appreciated what the Dunlop family had given to the sport they all loved.
