Joey's plaque unveiled.
Byline: MICHAEL TARM in Tallinn, EstoniaAROUND 100 people attended an emotional ceremony yesterday to unveil a memorial to Joey Dunlop on the spot where he died.
Family, friends and fans of the racing legend stood at the bend in the Estonian road where the 48-year-old racer skidded off the rain-drenched track and into a tree last July.
Fans have been leaving flowers at the base of the tree and Estonians decided to place a permanent marker there in tribute to Dunlop.
It consists of a modest granite stone, carved with a Celtic cross and a plaque that reads, "Joey Dunlop, 1952-2000."
His brother Robert pulled the cover off the stone, revealing it to the public.
People at the service described Joey as an unassuming man who never let his fame go to his head.
Simon Shaw, a British embassy official in Tallinn, said: "In this day of sporting heroes, with their bank accounts and egos, Joey was different."
Joey's brothers said after the service that they had met a motorcyclist who was behind their brother when he crashed.
Robert, himself a bike racer, said "Speaking to him really helped fill in some of the missing pieces for us. This was just a tragic accident that nobody could have recovered from."
Voice of The Mirror: Page 6
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LEGEND: Dunlop
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| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
|---|---|
| Date: | Jun 30, 2001 |
| Words: | 221 |
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