Full Throttle: Robert Dunlop, road racing and me

Liam Beckett wears many hats – plumber, footballer, manager, pundit, broadcaster and Black Santa. But it is as Robert Dunlop’s mentor and mechanic that he is best known. When he offered Robert the use of a workshop he didn’t realise that it would mark the start of a working relationship that would last until Robert’s tragic death in 2008. ‘There were always just the two of them, Robert and Liam, and there wasn’t one weekend when Robert went racing that Liam wasn’t with him. They were a formidable force, and Robert only needed Liam in his corner, he didn’t need anyone else.’ Louise Dunlop, Robert’s wife. Liam Beckett wears many hats – plumber, footballer, manager, pundit, broadcaster and Black Santa. But it is perhaps as Robert Dunlop’s mentor and mechanic that he is best known. When he offered a young Robert the use of a workshop at his house back in 1988, he didn’t realise that it would mark the start of an extraordinarily successful working relationship that would last until Robert’s tragic death at the NW200 in 2008. Now, for the first time, Liam talks candidly about their incredible partnership – the struggle to get Robert to believe in himself; the long nights spent fettling the bikes; life on the road and in the paddock; and Dunlop’s determination to race and to win, often in the face of unthinkable adversity. From the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix, to the Isle of Man TT and the racing in Macau, Liam was with Robert every step of the way – and this is the remarkable story of a life lived at full throttle, told in Liam’s inimitable style. Including many intimate behind-the-scenes photos of Robert Dunlop, this riveting book is not to be missed.

‘There were always just the two of them, Robert and Liam, and there wasn’t one weekend when Robert went racing that Liam wasn’t with him. They were a formidable force, and Robert only needed Liam in his corner, he didn’t need anyone else.’Louise Dunlop, Robert’s widow When road racing fan Liam Beckett offered a young Robert Dunlop the use of a workshop at his house in Ballymoney, he didn’t realise that that it would change both of their lives forever. Beckett went on to become Dunlop’s right-hand man. For more than twenty years, he was mechanic, mentor, fixer, friend, practically family. Together, they lived an extraordinary adventure, one that took Robert from a virtual unknown to one of the most exciting and successful road racers of his generation. Now, for the first time, Beckett talks candidly about their incredible partnership – the struggle to get Robert to believe in himself, the long nights spent perfecting the bikes, life on the road and in the paddock and Dunlop’s determination to race and win, often against terrifying odds. Beckett was at Dunlop’s side every step of the way, for his victories at the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix, for his incredible fight to race again after his near-death crash at the Isle of Man TT, and for the terrible crash that tragically cut Dunlop’s life short in 2008.A riveting behind-the-scenes book about Robert Dunlop – not to be missed.