Joey Dunlop’s Best Wins on the Isle of Man – 25 years later

On June 3, 2000, Joey Dunlop lined up in the familiar position of Formula One TT No. 3, now known as the Superbike TT. In impressive red and black Honda colors, he pushed the VTR1000 SP-1 machine into place on the starting line, waited 10 seconds, got a shoulder tap and set off towards the top of Bray Hill.

Well, I’m sure most of you know what will happen next. Twenty-five years later, the legendary story of it is being told by fans, both old and young. It was Joey Dunlop’s best time at TT and undoubtedly the best moment in the history of the human island.

At 200 Northwest, I chatted with road racing photographer and author Stephen Davison. He was on the ground at TT 2000 and vividly remembers the twists and turns that day and two weeks on the island.

“On the last night of practice, he seemed to have found something. He was struggling with his bike, but was ready to go to the race on Saturday,” Davison said.

Of course, the machine where Joey and his teammate John McGuinness were present was not a fantastical choice for most of the grid. Honda’s VTR1000 SP-1 was their answer to the V-twin dominance of Ducati’s world superbike, but in the first year of racing toddlers it wasn’t a complete package.

A month ago at 200 Northwest, Joey Dunlop significantly qualified the bike in Paul’s position, but it was clear that the bike lacked top speed and handling compared to the Dominant V&M Yamaha R1.

Jeffries doubled the superbike at the Northwest 200, then played Formula One and Senior TT Double in 1999. Lutter also choked up a Superbike Double in the Northwest in 2000, so they were two guys who beat the best machinery.

Joey needs support and the support comes from Honda. They sent him factory parts from the bikes of Aaron Smith, the world’s superbike rider. It’s fair to say that the pressure was under.

“Spine” from Joey Dunlop on Isle of Man in 2000

Tracking the conditions for the start of the Formula One race was not ideal. This is in line with Dunlop’s favor. The wet patches of the rain shower the night before were scattered over the 37.73-mile course. Can Joey be delivered? The tone was set from lap 1.

“It was a spine shaking from words, there was always the question, ‘Can he do that?’ But he was just above that since the start of that Formula One race,” Stephen said.

“Given the way 1999 opposed David Jeffries in the Yamaha R1, Joey knew that six laps would fall and flow.

“There’s one thing that’s never talked about that Saturday. The bike only appeared in its colouring for six laps. From that day on, Manx Radio said, “Oh, watch this!”

“You could say it was special, there was a different feeling about the place.”

Famous for his sport-defined photos, Stephen explained the importance of getting a shot of Joey that day. But some people weren’t that lucky…

“My good photographer friend didn’t take a sharp photo in six laps, so you can’t bluff it!

“From the photographer’s point of view, there was a bit of pressure, I took a simple option and wrote it on Quarter Bridge. You know, it’s slow so I made sure there’s a clear picture of Joey!”

“You could see all the experiences he had that day as a DJ. He pulls out a few seconds and the DJ will put it back in. But the more it lasts in the first few laps, the more you gained a sense of history.

Really, I was able to go back and watch the race in full on the TT+ app. Looking at it on paper, the story of Joey’s race was very simple. He lost the lead only once, but that was the start of the fifth lap after David Jeffries snatched it at +0.7 after his second pit stop.

However, Dunlop managed the race distance. He controlled the DJ gap in six seconds on a 1-4 lap to Ramsey run, before Jeffries took the lead on the mountain, creating a tactical chess match between the 48 and 27 years old.

Don’t forget, on the early rap, Michael Rutter and John McGuinness also took on the battle for victory.

The age perspective changed with island tts

However, when he asked Stephen about his age factor with Joey, he believes his perspective has changed in 2025.

“When you’re watching it now, it’s funny about age, the perspective has changed a lot. Joey had gray hair and people thought he was older than him!

“They both still do top jobs on the grid today. John is starting No. 1 at TT’s Big Honda, so our perspective has changed dramatically about age factors with Joey.”

Joey’s job became much easier on lap 5 after taking the lead, when David Jeffries’ V&M Yamaha suffered mechanical problems and was forced to retire at Barig Bridge. Dunlop had a nearly one minute lead over the rutter in second place, but only had to bring it home.

The last time Joey experienced victory in the Formula One race was in 1988. He was very close in 1999 when he lost to David Jeffries. Reclaiming Honda and Joey’s Formula One Crown was a moment in sports history.

“I remember standing in the tunnel next to the podium because I can’t get you inside the enclosure until the rider comes back,” Davison said. You could hear the commentary on the radio, then he crossed the line. Then I thought, “Don’t ruin these photos, don’t ball up it!” and the responsibility went back to me! ”

He achieved his 24th TT victory in his 24th year at the event when Joey Dunlop absorbed applause from the public lined up his return journey to Paddock. But as ever, the gentle nature of the man in Barrymanny did not allow the moment to overwhelm him:

“I remember meeting him after the race. He was just himself. Honestly, there were no high fives, no cheers or screams.

He joined Michael Lutter in second and John McGuinness in third.

From Stephen’s perspective, Joey Dunlop’s week on TT will be better.

“Then, for the rest of the week, I felt more special when I added 25 and 26th wins. I think I relaxed him in the 125/250cc race so I don’t get in the way at the first time. ”

Dunlop finished third in the Curtain Clothing Senior TT. Stephen Davison’s Joey’s persistent memory came shortly after the Advanced TT.

“I always remember Joey getting on the podium after my seniors. There’s a tradition where the top three go after the race to meet the scouts and thank them for helping them with the timing of the old leaderboards.

“I remember standing there with the camera, and the scout masters came in and gathered.

“You know, it’s a lasting memory for me. I’ll look at Joey and sit with all the kids and have him take a picture of me in front of the leaderboard.”

“If you think that the generation of children who met him there carried love to a man through his parents who probably saw Joey throughout his career, they all told the story of how they met Joey as adults, and that’s the magic of a man.

“It was the last thing you stole from the event in 2000 and he made it that way and made it his TT.”

Michael Dunlop expands family legacy

At the end of the chat, attention was directed at Joey’s nephew, Michael. Stephen filmed all of his victory on Man TT Island. This is now 30 years old. This is mounted on the Ducati Pani Girl V2 hours after the success of Super Sports Race 1.

“He (Michael) says a lot about keeping Dunlop’s name. For Michael, he always said he wants to win a TTS. He did that. There’s no doubt that they are, to sit on top of a tree and be the best TT rider for the two generations of the Dunlop family.

“For me, Michael was very careful and respected Joey’s record, and he didn’t want to step into it.

“I got more weight and for me I filmed all of Michael’s victory, they all had something.

“Joey was a great Honda guy. Yes, he also won at Yamaha. But with Michael, he jumped from bike to bike and chose that.”

Michael currently wins seven different manufacturers at TT and has his latest success with the Ducati V2.

“He is only interested in winning, and he is so ruthless.

“For us, to be on that level… from the same family, to dominate our sport and pass on its traditions, that’s great for us here (Northern Ireland).

On June 3, 2025, Michael Dunlop has two possibilities to add another victory to his ever-growing record tally. He is a history maker, just like Joey’s uncle, who was on the Isle of Man 25 years ago.

They both sit first and second in the race victory category, with every corner of the mountain a mile away from each other. They will be linked to the Human Island forever.

Whether 25 years ago or 2025, we appreciate the history you witnessed or are currently witnessing.