Biker killed in Dublin

Victor Gilmore, 42, from Vow Road in Ballymoney, lost his life following a high-speed crash in the 600cc Supersport event shortly before 1.30pm on Sunday at the Killalane road races near Skerries in north county Dublin.

The father-of-three previously escaped serious injury following an accident at the inaugural Armoy races last August, but his machine struck 75-year-old fan Hill McCook snr. A local resident, Mr McCook later died from his injuries.

Mr Gilmore was expected to give evidence outlining his version of the accident at Monday's inquest into Mr McCook's death.

Mr Gilmore crashed on the same section of the 3.6-mile Killalane circuit where Lisburn ace Darran Lindsay was killed following an accident during practice for the 1996 meeting.

A statement issued by the race organisers said: "It is with great sadness that the Loughshinny Motorcycle Club confirms that Victor Gilmore from Ballymoney, father of Craig, Jodie and Nicole and son of Jim and Mabel, succumbed to injuries received following a racing incident during the 600cc event.

"Victor was taken to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where he passed away. He will be dearly missed by his family, team and the road racing family.

"The committee and members of the club extend their deepest sympathies to Victor's family and large circle of friends for their sad loss.

"His family request privacy at this sad time."

Dungannon competitor Ryan Farquhar, one of the sport's most senior riders, said fatal crashes were becoming an all too common occurrence.

"This is happening too often. There has got to be drastic changes brought in for next year because riders and spectators are getting killed and the sport cannot survive as it is," he said.

"The Roads Inspection Committee of the MCUI (Motor Cycle Union of Ireland) has got to listen to what the most experienced riders are saying and take our views on board.

"No one on the Roads Inspection Committee knows what it is like to ride a modern-day Superbike on the roads, but they are making key decisions on safety," he added.

"Superbikes and even Supersport machines are now at a point where they're too fast for national road races."

Farquhar described Mr Gilmore as an experienced rider who fully understood the risks associated with the sport.

"Victor had been in racing for years and he knew more than most the risks involved," he said.

"It was all he knew really and he loved it. I just want to pass on my condolences to his family."

Mr Gilmore entered his first race at Nutts Corner in 1996.

He won the Clubmans short circuit championship three years later and developed into a regular top six finisher at national road race level, finishing fourth behind established stars Richard Britton, Adrian Archibald and Ryan Farquhar in the 2002 Senior Irish Championship.

He also stood on the podium in the newcomers race at the Manx Grand Prix.

Mr Gilmore's accident brought the Irish road racing season to a close in a year blighted by tragedy and at a time when the sport's governing body, the MCUI, is coming under mounting government pressure to outline how it intends to attain higher safety and professional standards.

Southern rider Myles Byrne was killed at the Skerries 100 in July, with Armagh man Stephen Larkin suffering the same fate weeks later at the international Kells Road Races.

An investigation into Sunday's fatal incident is under way.