Retro Rewind: Triumph and tragedy - the story of William and Michael Dunlop's determination to race in their father Robert's memory at the 2008 North West 200

The 47-year-old was killed after he came off Roy Hanna’s TSR250 Honda at Mather’s Cross during practice on the Thursday evening of race week.

The following night, William vowed to return to Portrush to compete in the 250cc race on Paddy Flynn’s Honda, which was the first event on the Saturday race schedule.

Then only 22-years-old, the Ballymoney rider gave an exclusive front page interview to the News Letter, which carried the headline ‘I want to race for Dad’ on the morning of Saturday, May 17, 2008.

Outlining his intentions on the eve of the race, William told me: “My dad put a lot of work into preparing my 250 after I had problems with it after the Easter short circuit races.

“I want to take a run out in the 250 race as a tribute to him. I remember him telling me that I could win the 250 race at the North West on this bike.

“The plan is to just go out and ride around and see how it goes. I know that he would have wanted me to ride in the 250 race. There will be other people who will think that it’s crazy and who wouldn’t want me to do it, but I would like to.

“I want to do it in his memory. After that, I’m not sure what I’ll do regarding my own career.”

Clearly grief-stricken, William said the tragic events that unfolded the previous evening had been a scenario he had dreaded.

“When you hear that there’s been an accident, you always hope that it’s someone else and that dad or Michael haven’t been involved.

“That’s not a nice thing to say, but that’s just what your immediate reaction is. I think it’s right that the race is going ahead tomorrow. My dad would have wanted that.”

On a sombre race morning, NW200 officials held an impromptu meeting and decided they would not permit William to race. Nonetheless, he took up his position on the grid in front of the packed grandstands.

His younger brother Michael also decided that he, too, was going to compete and his machine was also wheeled out onto the line.

Despite the organisers’ ruling that they shouldn’t race, no-one was seemingly willing to enforce the decision. In an emotionally-charged atmosphere and with thousands of eyes watching the situation unfold before them, it would have taken a brave man to try and remove either of the Dunlop boys from the grid.

However, to his great dismay, William was unable to take part in the race due to a problem with his Honda.

Michael, though, had no such issues and famously went out and won the race to pay the ultimate tribute to his father.

Following a battle with English rider Christian Elkin, Michael overcame the greatest challenge of his career to claim a heart-wrenching victory on the very circuit that was so often the theatre in which Robert achieved his greatest feats.

Fighting back the tears on that emotional morning 12 years ago, Michael said: “I couldn’t let William go out there and race on his own. It’s great for a Dunlop to win. I wanted to do it for my dad and I did it.

“I found myself in front on the last lap and I thought ‘there’s no point in stopping now’. I had my spot picked out and it worked.

“I’m so proud and I want to thank everyone for their support. My dad was the best around here.”

John McGuinness completed the rostrum in third place on Clive Padgett’s Honda and said witnessing the young Dunlop’s victory was something that would live with him forever.

“My bike was good and the race could have gone either way. All three of us were riding hard but it was fantastic for Michael Dunlop to get the win and he thoroughly deserved it.

“Seeing all those fans waving their programmes around the circuit is something that will stay in my mind forever.”

Under the circumstances, Dunlop’s staggering victory that day almost defies belief.

History will remember it as one of the greatest sporting victories ever accomplished by a competitor from these shores.

Retro Rewind: Horror NW200 crash failed to curb Stuart Easton's enthusiasm for road racing* A message from the Editor:

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