Tweed inspired by famous Dunlop racing family
· Yahoo Sports
Darryl Tweed says he was inspired to compete in motorcycle racing by his proximity to the famous Dunlop racing family, who like him hailed from the County Antrim town of Ballymoney.
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Tweed began racing on short circuits in 2010 and four years later switched much of his focus to racing on closed public roads.
He was named man of the meeting at the recent Cookstown 100 meeting after collecting two second places, a third and two fourths over the Orritor circuit.
"I grew up in the shadow of some of the greatest road racers in the world, like Robert and Joey Dunlop, and I grew up with Michael - he was at school with me, a year or two above me," said Tweed on the BBC Bikes Podcast.
"I was awe of them in many ways and I just thought. 'I want to be like them some day'.
"I lived on the Garryduff Road, same as Joey, and you passed his house every day. So you were like 'one of the greatest motorcycle racers in the world lives there', so it was always a big thing for me.
"It makes me proud to be from Ballymoney. Michael is probably the best rider of our generation and William [Robert's son and Michael's brother who died in a crash in July 2018] was a great rider too.
"I'm the third generation of motorcycle racer in my own family. My uncle and my grandfather did it before me and it just continued through the bloodline."
Tweed was crowned IRRC Superbike champion in 2025, a series which is held on road circuits in Europe.
"I was very proud to achieve that. It took a bit of luck and it took a bit of skill and it came together pretty well for me.
"It's a pity it was the last year of the IRRC Superbike class as I feel it gave it a bit more exposure but it is nice to have a Superbike championship to my name and be the last-ever champion out there.
"I would like to keep my momentum going from the IRRC Championship and show the people at home how much I have progressed, open a few eyes and see I did learn a bit competing in Europe, show that I'm not here just to mess about."
The Ballymoney rider hopes for better fortune than he enjoyed in 2025 at this year's North West 200 from 6-9 May.
"I had bad luck last year, I dislocated my shoulder in the first Superbike race in a crash at Mather's Cross chicane," he explained.
"I managed still to get a fifth place in a Supertwins race but it did hinder my North West and my TT so hopefully this year I don't do anything stupid, because it was my fault entirely.
"Hopefully I can have a better year there this time and show what I'm capable of."