Death of Robert Dunlop: 'I was talking to him, minutes later he was gone'

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Race Marshall Janet Ogle, was one of the last people to talk to Robert Dunlop

Race Marshall Janet Ogle, was one of the last people to talk to Robert Dunlop

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VIDEO
• Course Clerk, Mervyn Whyte
• Tributes from fans [1] [2] [3]
• Robert's last interview with BTTV

Inconsolable grief at the Joey Dunlop Memorial Garden in Ballymoney

Inconsolable grief: fans gather at the Joey Dunlop Memorial Garden in Ballymoney to mourn loss of brother Robert

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• Email your tributes
• Read your tributes

VIDEO
• Course Clerk, Mervyn Whyte
• Tributes from fans [1] [2] [3]
• Robert's last interview with BTTV

Saturday, May 17, 2008

By Brendan McDaid at NW200

A steady stream of leather-clad bikers, friends and relatives yesterday gathered at the roadside where champion rider Robert Dunlop fell.

Before it had even begun, the North West 200 had already produced a legend as testified on the many brief messages pinned to the row of bouquets placed at Mather's Cross.

Participants and visitors from across the world gathered, many of them comforting each other as they looked on teary-eyed at the scattered hay bale and torn panel that marked the spot where Robert Dunlop's long and distinguished career came to an abrupt end on Thursday night.

Janet Ogle laid a bouquet alongside a framed photo of Robert beguiled in his cycling bodysuit and posing on top of one of his beloved bikes.

Miss Ogle, a marshall at the North West 200, was one of the last people to speak with Robert just moments before the practice race on Thursday night got underway. She said: "I was talking to him at the front row of the guard and five minutes later he was gone. I can't believe it. He was a genuine guy, a really, really nice wee guy, always smiling, always had time for the marshals.

"He had a very, very good sense of humour. Last night we were just standing having a bit of chit-chat, a bit of carry-on with photographers. We were just laughing and joking with him. He will be missed."

A stream of well-wishers left messages on cards that held few words but the sentiment was potent enough to show just how important Robert Dunlop to the biking community and the wider public. One read: "Robert the road king" .

Another said simply: "My number one, miss you Bert", while a third read: "Robert you are a pure legend, a sad untimely death, God bless you."

Marlene Glasgow from Cookstown came to pay her respects with young son Lee. She said: "It is awful, it has put a damper on the whole day."

Reading the messages of condolence left by others, she added: "He was indeed king of the road, king of the road too after Joey. I feel well sorry for his family, his boys, and then his buddies having to come past this spot tomorrow. The Dunlops meant a lot to people. I think people are still feeling the after effects of Joey's death. He is badly missed and people are just that shocked today again."

At the paddock in Portrush, as organisers vowed to go ahead with today's race in Robert's memory, thousands of bikers and racing fans stood around in groups discussing the events of Thursday night.

The usual carnival atmosphere of the eve of the race was noticeably absent, replaced by a prevailing sense of shock that one of its most talented and colourful characters had been killed in preparation for the event that had become synonymous with his name.

As a mark of respect, tomorrow's race will be preceded with a one-minute silence.