Mark Buckley killed in NW200 crash

SCOTTISH road racer Mark Buckley was killed in the second Superstock race at the NW200 on Saturday.

The 35-year-old from Loch Lomond, Scotland fell from his Aprilia RSV4 on the opening lap of the Superstock race in the high speed Millbank Avenue section near Portstewart. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Saturday afternoon.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jayne and we extend our deepest sympathies to the entire family circle." said the director for the NW200, Mervyn Whyte, who added that the organisers were devastated by the loss of a regular competitor.

Whyte added that the organisers had made safety a high priority for the races, but the accident happened in a high speed section of the 8.9 mile road circuit.

Experienced road racer Mark - who finished third in last year's TTXGP aboard a Brammo - had joined the Splitlath Redmond Aprilia outfit for the NW200 last month and was due to contest the Isle of Man TT.

A statement from the team said: "Mark was a rider who always had a smile on his face and although he was new to the Splitlath Redmond outfit, he had already made a lot of friends within the team.

"He was a man who was always positive, with an infectious sense of humour and a rider who cared deeply about his colleagues and others.

"Mark will be missed by everyone at Splitlath Redmond and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jayne, his family and friends.”

Organisers have not fully uncovered the cause of the crash yet and are investigating the circumstances alongside the Motorcycle Union of Ireland.

Visordown wishes to extend its condolences to Mark's family and friends.