Elderly bike fan critical after crash at race

A bike fan engulfed in burning fuel when three motorbikes crashed at a road race remains in a critical condition today.

The 70-year-old spectator from the North suffered serious burns when the competitors crashed in the final race of the day at the Skerries 100 in north Co Dublin. The man, from Cookstown in Co Tyrone, was rushed to Beaumont Hospital.

He was later transferred to a specialist burns unit in St James’s Hospital where staff said he is critical.

The accident happened on the second lap of the Grand Final on Duke’s Bend, between the Dublin Road and Balgungan, shortly before 5pm yesterday.

One of the bikers, Gary Johnson from Lincolnshire, suffered a broken collar bone in the accident while a second rider, Michael Weldon from Swords, escaped with minor injuries.

The Skerries 100 is the premier race meeting in the Republic of Ireland, and is run by the Loughshinny Motorcycles Supporters Club.

It was the home track of Martin Finnegan, the 28-year-old champion rider who was killed in Tandragee 100 in Antrim in May.

The local hero holds the record for the 2.9 miles lap, which he completed at 106.774mph on a Yamaha 1000cc.

Within weeks of his death, the Irish motor racing fraternity was mourning the loss of another top road racer, 48-year-old Robert Dunlop.

The Ballymoney man was killed in a practice session for the North West 200.

Dunlop’s two sons Michael and William both took part in the Skerries 100 and celebrated a successful day’s racing in the event.

Their uncle, fellow bike racer Joey Dunlop, died in a similar accident in Estonia in 2000.