Joey Dunlop celebration will be 'unique' - McCallen

The Joey Dunlop 25 event will attract an array of top motorcycling talent

Joey Dunlop's former Honda team-mate Phillip McCallen says the distinguished line-up of riders and collection of machinery gathered for a special celebration of the legendary motorcyclist's racing career on 24 May will make it a "unique" occasion.

The legacy of the much revered motorcycling icon will be honoured at a special event in his hometown of Ballymoney to mark 25 years since his passing in a racing incident in Estonia.

Among Dunlop's achievements were 26 wins at the Isle of Man TT, five Formula One World Championships, 24 Ulster Grand Prix victories and 13 North West 200 successes.

Among those taking part in the "Joey 25" celebration will be multiple World Superbike champions Jonathan Rea and Carl Fogarty, McCallen, ex-grand prix riders Ron Haslam, Jeremy McWilliams and Eugene Laverty, British champions Leon Haslam and Adrian Coates, North West 200 stars Glenn Irwin and Alastair Seeley, plus double Formula Two world champion Brian Reid.

Eleven-times TT winner McCallen told BBC Sport NI it would be "an honour' to take part in the event.

"This is unique. There's nobody else could bring a collection of riders like this together. They were all friends of Joey Dunlop and they all respected him.

"We were team-mates for a lot of years. We had some serious competition between each other but we were still friends.

"He was the sort of guy you could have a tough, tough race with but respect each other."

'I looked up to him and wanted to ride like him'

The afternoon will feature the largest-ever display of Joey's motorcycles while on the evening of 24 May the iconic machines will roar to life as a star-studded line-up rides them in a closed-road parade through Ballymoney's town centre.

"Joey's career spanned a lot of years and there's no other rider in the world I think would have had this many bikes," added McCallen.

"A lot of the bikes have been restored and a lot of the bikes are original. There are some replicas out there but this collection of bikes is unique."

Among the decorated road racers who will participate in the event are Ryan Farquhar, Michael Rutter, Adrian Archibald and Ian Simpson and Bruce Anstey, who conveys something of Joey's international appeal.

"He was pretty much my all-time hero," reflected New Zealander Anstey, a 12-time TT winner now resident in county Antrim.

"I grew up watching him. We used to get the old videotapes in the 1980s in New Zealand and we enjoyed watching him. To ride one of his bikes is a big privilege to me.

"I had the privilege of standing next to him in the podium after the 250cc race in 2000. I was too scared to talk to him then. I couldn't understand a word he said either as well. I just really looked up to him and wanted to ride like him."

'As well thought of as ever'

Joey Dunlop won three races at what turned out to be his last IOM TT in 2000

Dunlop's son Gary added that the event held in memory of his late father will be "very special".

"This is the 25th year and it's going to be the last event of its kind in our lifetime. We're really excited that it's happening.

"It's 25 years down the line and it's testament to his loyal fanbase that he is as well thought of as ever and it's humbling to see it.

"There are a lot of big names and it's nice to see people like Jonathan Rea and Carl Fogarty coming to Ballymoney, a wee town that's off the beaten track. It's good for the town."