Joey 25 : Saturday 24th May 2025 :

The legacy of the legendary motorcyclist Joey Dunlop will be honoured at a special, free event in Ballymoney on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

The “Joey 25” celebration, commemorating the 25th anniversary of his passing, will take place in his hometown and is organised by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. This unique tribute will bring together over 25 motorcycling legends, both past and present, to pay tribute to one of Northern Ireland’s greatest sporting ambassadors.

The afternoon will feature the largest-ever display of Joey’s motorcycles, showcasing his remarkable career and showcasing his remarkable career. That evening, these iconic machines will come to life as a star-studded lineup of riders, including World Superbike Champions Carl Fogarty and Jonathan Rea, Grand Prix stars Ron Haslam, Jeremy McWilliams, and Eugene Laverty, British champions Leon Haslam and Adrian Coates, North West 200 record holder Alastair Seeley, BSB standout and NW200 superbike king Glenn Irwin, and 11-time Irish champion Michael Swann, will ride them in a closed-road parade through Ballymoney’s town centre.

Double World Formula 2 Champion Brian Reid will also join Joey’s former teammates, rivals, and friends, including Alan Irwin, Trevor Steele, Con Law, Raymond McCullough, and Leslie McMaster, for this one-of-a-kind anniversary event.

Leading a dazzling group of road racing legends is world record holder Ryan Farquhar, accompanied by multiple Isle of Man TT and North West 200 champions such as Michael Rutter, Bruce Anstey, Phillip McCallen, Adrian Archibald, and Ian Simpson. Additionally, Irish champions Paul Robinson, James Courtney, Denis McCullough, Steve Cull, and Michael McGarrity will be present.

It is anticipated that the Dunlop family will be represented in the parade by Joey’s daughter, Donna McLean, and Michael McCammond, the husband of Joey’s youngest daughter, Joanne.

Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to gather in Ballymoney to pay tribute to the five-time World Champion, who tragically lost his life in a racing accident in Estonia at the age of 48 in 2000.

“We couldn’t imagine a better way to remember Joey than with an event in his hometown,” said Joey’s wife, Linda. 

“This milestone anniversary is a poignant time for our family, and we’re deeply grateful to the local council for organising this event. Seeing so many of Joey’s original bikes displayed and ridden through the town is truly special.”

The Joey 25 event, scheduled two weeks after the North West 200, promises to cap a bustling period for the Borough.

“We’re excited to welcome fans from all around the world to this extraordinary Joey 25 celebration,” said Councillor Ciaran McQuillan, the youngest mayor in the history of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. 

“Joey was a local legend and a global ambassador—not just for Ballymoney, but for our entire region and beyond. It’s only fitting that we celebrate his enduring legacy in style.”

Plans are also underway to fly some riders in from the Isle of Man, where they are preparing for the TT. The Joey 25 event will also include a “meet the riders” session, autograph signings, live music, and additional entertainment.

As part of the festivities, a memorabilia exhibition will run from April at Ballymoney’s museum. Further tributes are planned at the North West 200 and a parade of race bikes at the Classic Bike Festival Ireland in August.

The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information is available, you can subscribe here : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/

You will also find new information as soon as it is available through the TBNI Facebook Page the TBNI Threads Feed and the  TBNI X / Twitter Feed. 

So why not Follow those also?