Brothers addicted to speed. At any price. Motorcycle road racing is the most dangerous of all motor sports. One in which men compete at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour on closed country roads. Roads that are lined with trees, telegraph posts, stone walls.
It is a sport that has claimed many lives over the years – and continues to do so to this day. Ireland and the Isle of Man are two of the few places in the world where the sport still survives.
Released in 2014 & narrated by Liam Neeson, this is the dramatic and poignant story of two sets of brothers from Northern Ireland who have dominated road racing for over thirty years. Two generations of one family that have been united by success. And united by tragedy.
The film follows the racing careers of Joey Dunlop (1952–2000), who won five consecutive TT Formula One world titles and his brother Robert Dunlop (1960–2008), whose sons Michael (born 1988) and William (1985–2018) were successful road racers.
Joey Dunlop was notable off-track for his humanitarian work among orphanages in the Balkans.
He was killed during a race in Tallinn, Estonia, when his bike left the track and crashed into a tree. Robert Dunlop suffered multiple injuries after his rear wheel collapsed during the 1994 Formula One TT, but after two years’ rehabilitation returned to racing in the Super Lightweight class on a bike specially modified to accommodate his damaged leg and wrist. He died during a practice lap before the 2008 North West 200.
The film comes to a climax when Michael, a legitimate entry to the 250 cc race of that competition, but against the strong wishes of the organisers, forced his way onto the starting grid on 17 May 2008, two days after the death of his father and the day before the funeral, and won the race.
With cameos from Murray Walker, John McGuinness this is a must see for any motorcycle enthusiasts.
