Dunlop in BBC TV series

A new lottery-funded four-part series on BBC1 Northern Ireland tells the story of the love affair between Northern Ireland and motorcycle racing. Digital Satellite users (ONLY) outside Northern Ireland, can watch BBC 1 Northern Ireland on channel 943).

Starting on Tuesday, June 28 at 10.35pm, The Charge of the Bike Brigade recalls the golden age of road-racing during the 1970s on circuits throughout Northern Ireland, from Cookstown to the NW200, as the legends from the Armoy Armada went wheel to wheel with the Dromara Destroyers.

The action shows, on one side, the Armada, led by a young Joey Dunlop – yet to record a win – with brother-in-law Mervyn Robinson and Frank Kennedy and later Jim Dunlop, Joey’s brother as they swap paint and lock handlebars with the Destroyers headed by Ray McCullough with Trevor Steele, Brian Reid and Ian McGregor. The poignancy won’t be lost on viewers – the Destroyers are all still alive while none of the legends from the Armada remain.

BBC Sport Northern Ireland commentator Stephen Watson presents the series.