“You never think of the danger, you only think about it when you’re in the hospital bed, thinking, ‘Why do I do this?’
“And then the pain goes away and you can’t wait to get back on the bike. And you never think it’s going to happen to you.”
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Robert Dunlop with sons Michael and William - road motorcycle racers all
There are two reasons why this conversation with William Dunlop is particularly striking. The first is that he is sitting with me, with his leg – broken in two places – still in plaster, crutches to the side, following a crash at the TT only a week ago, an incident he plays down – “it sounds more dramatic than it was.” But he was airlifted from the road? “Ah, there’s always a helicopter, so the race can carry on.”
The second is that we are here to talk about ‘Road’, the film telling the story of him, his brother Michael, their father Robert and their uncle, the road motorcycling legend Joey.
‘Road’ is a film that attempts to capture the thrill, the speed, the power and the difficulty of racing a bike around normal corners at speeds up to 150 miles per hour.
That was William Dunlop’s intention, anyway, in taking part in the film… “It’d be nice for people to see how hard it is to get where we’ve got to, with no rewards,” he says, reasonably enough.
“It’s sickening to see the likes of Rory McIlrory swinging a golf club about, and I’m in a rented house because I can’t afford to buy.”
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Robert Dunlop with his brother, TT legend Joey Dunlop
But any film about the Dunlops is necessarily not just tinged, but saturated, with tragedy – telling the story of how first Joey, then Robert, mastered their sport but gave their lives for it in turn.
The film’s most telling moment is 2008, when Robert Dunlop crashed in practice at the North West 200 and succumbed to his injuries. His sons were both racing with him that Thursday, and both were told to retire from the competition – “unfit to race”, which would have been a fair assessment by any race director.
Come the Saturday, and both boys were lined up on the track, determined to finish. And it was Michael who pulled off a victory that was as emotional as daring, and rapturously received by the crowd.
William Dunlop, the more laid-back of the two brothers, was initially less sure of his place in the family business. As a teenager, he was busy “failing to be a footballer” and it was only the reaction – national grief, local heroism - to his uncle Joey’s death that caused him to think about getting on a bike.
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Two days after their father's death, Michael and William Dunlop were back on the road
“I didn’t even know Joey, I’d never spoken to him or seen him,” he tells me. “I still don’t know to this day why I tried it. Everyone thinks we were born into it, but we weren’t.”
While his brother climbs to ever greater glory in the sport, William clearly remains ambivalent about his chosen profession.
“I don’t know what I get from it to be honest,” he admits.
“I quite enjoyed it at the start, there was no pressure. But now I’m quite high up, the fun’s not there, it’s a job.” He shrugs. “I’m at the stage now, I couldn’t do anything else.
“I can see myself doing it for a long time. You get to a certain age, you go downhill, and I think I’ll get more enjoyment again then. Winning’s good but it comes at a price.”
For William, this price seems to be at the expense of friends and a social life that should be the bloodline of any good-humoured Irish lad – “it’s just my brother and me, so if we fall out, I actually do have nobody” – but his words do have a jarring ring, bearing in mind what went before.
Evidently not given to too much introspection on the burden of the legacy on his and his brother’s shoulders, William’s sporting heroes, it turns out, are actually footballers, David Ginola, Teddy Sheringham, team players all.
And his own father, he mentions in passing, on the subject of Robert’s terrible injuries sustained early in his career – a leg that nearly had to go, an arm whose nerve endings were all smashed – but only strengthened his determination to get back on the bike.
“Now when I look at it, it’s more likely to be my dad,” says William. “Now I’ve had a taste of what he went through, and how hard it is.
“People are saying I’m unbelievable because I’m knocking about with a broken leg, and that’s nothing compared with what he went through. And now I’m more aware than I ever was.”
'Road' is in cinemas now. Watch the trailer above...
20 Sports Documentaries To Enjoy
Senna(01 of20)
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Spanning the decade from his arrival in Formula One in the mid-80’s, 'Senna' follows the monumental career and tragic death of Brazilian motor-racing champion, Ayrton Senna, taking in his myriad successes and intense rivalry with French driver, Alain Prost.
The Class of '92(02 of20)
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This Man-United mega-doc takes a look at the sporting achievements and global superstardom of six superbly talented young Manchester United footballers (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville). Spanning 1992 to 1999, 'The Class Of ’92' covers the players' highs and lows in this golden age of football.
Bigger Stronger Faster(03 of20)
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'Bigger, Stronger, Faster' is an astute look at the world of performance-enhancing drugs, and the athletes that rely on them. The film follows three brothers, all either current or recovered users of steroids. Director Christopher Bell explores America’s win-at-all-costs culture and the hypocrisies that pave the way to success
Beyond The Mat(04 of20)
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Director Barry Blaustein explores his passion for professional wrestling, leading him on a three-year homage to the United States, on a quest to unravel the mind-set of participants of this extreme sport. With the focus fixed on wrestling stars, Mick Foley, Terry Funk and Jake Roberts, 'Beyond The Mat' is a heartfelt look at a sport at odds with its contemporaries.
Bobby Fischer Against The World(05 of20)
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'Bobby Fischer Against The World' offers a fascinating insight into the world of competitive chess. At the centre of this gaming documentary is the captivating life of Bobby Fischer, the first rock star of chess and later a tragic figure.
Deep Water(06 of20)
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In 1968, the Sunday Times ran an ambitious competition, challenging amateurs and professionals to complete the Golden Globe Race, a singled handed, round-the-world yacht race, for a cash prize of £5,000. Only one man made it to the end. 'Deep Water' takes us on a journey through the catalogue of disasters that made this one of the most catastrophic boat races in history.
Desert Runners(07 of20)
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A complex story of endurance and will-power amongst a team of diverse non-professionals, 'Desert Runners' witnesses a group of amateur athletes as they complete an ultra-marathon across some of the World’s most brutal landscapes.
Dogtown & Z Boys(08 of20)
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Narrated by Sean Penn, award-winning 'Dogtown and Z-Boys' tells the story of 8 Santa Monica teenagers, who, shunned by their contemporaries, go on to define a generation of skating during the 1970s.
Fists Of Freedom(09 of20)
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One of the most political moments in sporting history.'Fists of Freedom' is a documentary that examines the events leading up to and during the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City that led to that moment on the podium. With interviews from athletes including John Carlos, Tommie Smith and activist Dr. Harry Edwards, explaining their motivations and the consequences.
Hoop Dreams(10 of20)
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This engaging and, at times, heart-breaking documentary follows two inner-city Chicago natives, Arthur Agee and William Gates, as they follow their dreams to become basketball superstars. As one climbs the ladder of success, the other’s dreams are quashed. This is a suspense story with top notes of joy and an underlying stream of tension.
Murderball(11 of20)
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Warriors in wheelchairs, 'Murderball' documents the rough and tumble world of Para Rugby. Through the eyes of the US Olympic team, Murderball combines the high adrenaline of this hardcore sport, with a candid look at disability.
On Any Sunday(12 of20)
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1971’s 'On Any Sunday' is a classic for fans of motorcycling. With interviews with some of the sport’s most recognisable practitioners, including the legendary Steve McQueen, the documentary takes an adrenaline-fuelled look at the riders who devote their lives to the racing tracks and off-road courses across the globe.
Pumping Iron(13 of20)
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The 1977 doc follows a musclebound young Austrian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, on his quest for glory in the 1976 Mr Olympia competition. The villain of the piece, Schwarzenegger, is filmed psyching out junior rival, Lou Ferrigno, to secure victory.
The Endless Summer(14 of20)
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Cult classic 'The Endless Summer' sees Bruce Brown follow two young surfers on their quest for the perfect wave. The journey trails the intrepid surfers as they scale the unchartered waters of West Africa, shark-infested seas of Australia and the tropical tides of Tahiti.
The Other Dream Team(15 of20)
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'The Other Dream Team' covers the incredible triumph of a Lithuanian basketball team who, despite numerous hurdles at the hands of Soviet rule, go on to triumph at Barcelona’s 1992 Olympics, and in the process provide a symbol of hope for the Lithuanian independence movement.
Touching The Void(16 of20)
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Tyson(17 of20)
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Mike Tyson takes on his detractors by painting himself as a misunderstood outsider in this self-narrated documentary made up of original interviews and archival footage.
Undefeated(18 of20)
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Another Academy Award winner, 'Undefeated' is the ultimate underdog story about a school football team who, against all the odds, and with a record number of losses stacking against them, go on to become champions under the guidance of coach Bill Courtney.
Venus And Serena(19 of20)
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'Venus and Serena' offers an intimate look into the lives of two of tennis’s most controversial players during one of the most difficult years of their lives.
When We Were Kings(20 of20)
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This Academy Award-winning look at the infamous ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman (he of the grills) with 1974 feature celebrity interviews from James Brown, Jim Brown, B.B. King, Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Spike Lee and Thomas Hauser.