---
title: "Isle of Man TT Motorcycle Rider William Dunlop Killed in Racing Crash"
description: "William Dunlop's death marks the third on-track casualty for the Irish Dunlop family."
date: "2018-07-09"
modified: "2018-07-09"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22012/isle-of-man-tt-motorcycle-rider-william-dunlop-killed-in-racing-crash"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Crash"
  - "Isle of Man TT"
  - "motorcycle racing"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "yamaha"
---

# Isle of Man TT Motorcycle Rider William Dunlop Killed in Racing Crash

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/07/gettyimages-952200476.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Irish road racing superstar William Dunlop has been confirmed dead following a violent crash he suffered at County Dublin on Saturday, July 7. Dunlop was only 32 years old.

The accident happened while Dunlop was riding in Saturday's practice session for the Skerries 100 event, which is contested on a racing course made up of closed public roads similar to those of the [Isle of Man TT](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/11287/the-isle-of-man-tt-is-the-worlds-deadliest-race-and-thats-why-people-come>). According to [*Motorsport*](<https://www.motorsport.com/bike/news/william-dunlop-killed-in-skerries-crash-1057373/>), Dunlop was riding his Yamaha YZF-R1 machine around the 2.9-mile circuit when he crashed at a high-speed portion of the course known as Sam's Tunnel.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1015688425670873088

The Skerries 100 marked the Irish rider's return to road racing, as he had decided to skip this year's Isle of Man TT—a race he previously had finished on the podium five times—due to family health concerns. Dunlop himself was on a long road to recovery after sustaining [serious injuries](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/21297/second-casualty-of-2018-isle-of-man-tt-first-timer-adam-lyon>) at the North West 200 road race in May.

“The Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club, organizers of the Skerries 100, deeply regrets to announce that competitor William Dunlop of Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, has passed away following injuries in a tragic accident that occurred during practice which took place today, July 7, 2018," according to the organization. "The Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club extends their heartfelt sympathy to William Dunlop's family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very sad time.”

https://twitter.com/_/status/1015707169642176513

Dunlop, who enjoyed a whopping 108 victories during his racing career, came from a star-studded lineage of Irish motorcycle riders. His uncle, Joey Dunlop, still holds the record for most Isle of Man TT races at a massive 26, while his dad Robert Dunlop also enjoyed success in two-wheeled racing. Both family members [lost their lives](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21201/the-2018-isle-of-man-tt-bike-race-has-already-claimed-its-first-death>) in motorcycle racing accidents.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)