Mourners pay tribute to motorcycle star

Tragic motorcycle star Mark Young was a courageous racer who won the hearts of everyone he met, mourners at his funeral heard today.

Biking was the 22-year-old’s life-long passion and a successful career on the circuit lay ahead of him, reverend Tom Greer told a packed church in his home town of Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

Hundreds gathered for the service for the popular competitor, who died in hospital on Sunday after crashing during the North West 200 race meeting the previous day.

He suffered extensive internal injuries when he came off his bike in the opening 250cc race.

The crash happened on the same Mather’s Cross section of the course where racing legend Robert Dunlop was killed last year.

Family minister Rev Greer said the turn out at the funeral was testament to his standing within the racing community.

“Within his own family I know that Mark was everyone’s blue-eyed boy and even over the past few painful days the stories and memories you have shared of Mark have been a source of thankfulness in the midst of what has otherwise been very great sadness and loss,” he said.

“Within the close-knit community that is motorcycle racing I know that Mark was held in high regard and was seen as a rising star; and as people have travelled from all over Ireland, and maybe further afield, to join with the community of friends and supporters here in Cookstown the sheer numbers gathered her are testimony not only to the esteem in which Mark was held but also to the love and concern which many wish to express to you, his family, at this time.”

He added: “Mark was a highly skilled mechanic, a courageous and determined racer, and a very fine young man who won everyone’s hearts.”

Earlier, the biker’s girlfriend Tara carried his racing helmet as the hearse left the family home led by two motorcyclists.

Other bikers followed as the huge cortege made its way to nearby Molesworth Presbyterian Church.

During the service, the minister revealed that Mark and Tara had been the first to come across a fatal road crash only weeks before Saturday’s accident.

“I guess Mark never expected that in just a short time he too would leave this life behind,” he added.

Rev Greer also paid tribute to the way he had battled back from a serious race injury in 2007 to return to competition.

“Those of us outside of the sport often wonder why after such suffering a motorcyclist doesn’t just leave racing behind, but Mark, like many others, emerged from his injuries more enthusiastic than ever to get back on a bike,” he said.

The cleric went on to thank members of the biker’s D and GW racing team for the support they had offered the family and the staff in the intensive care unit of the Royal Victoria hospital who had battled to save his life.