Dunlop dead.

Motorcycle legend Joey Dunlop was killed in an accident yesterday while competing in an Estonian road race.

The 48-year old veteran had decided to return to capital Tallinn instead of racing at his local Skerries 100 event in Northern Ireland, and had won two events on the street circuit before crashing fatally in a 125cc race. Heavy rain had made the roads treacherous and, despite his undoubted ability in all conditions, Dunlop was powerless to prevent his bike careering into trees bordering the track. He died instantly.

The decision to race in Estonia was apparently prompted by the suicide of former 125cc sponsor Andy McMenemy just day's after this year's Isle of Man TT event, where Dunlop notched up a record 26th race win. Insisting that he 'wanted to get away from it all', Dunlop had loaded his bikes into a van and driven to Tallinn for the weekend's racing. It was something he had done before and, despite suffering a serious hand injury - which almost prevented him from driving home - in 1997, the event was among his favourites.

The Ballymoney publican had been urged by friends to quit the sport after his record-breaking TT meeting last month, but simply could not decide to turn his back on racing. He was awarded the MBE for his achievements on the track - which included five F1 world championships and myriad road race successes aside from those at the TT - and the OBE for his part in mercy missions to the Balkans.

Dunlop leaves a wife and five children, all aged between eleven and 25.