Thousands remember Simon Andrews

THOUSANDS of riders joined a procession on the Isle of Man yesterday in memory of Simon Andrews, who died after crashing at the North West 200. 

Around 5,000 road racing fans rode the Mountain Course led by Dave Hailwood, son of race legend Mike Hailwood.

Riders assembled at the TT grandstand at 2.30pm and Steve Parrish read a statement of thanks from Simon’s family before the procession began.

Dave Hailwood rode a replica of his father's TT-winning 1967 Honda RC181 to lead the memorial lap, which was organised using social media.

The lap followed a ‘minute of noise’ in which riders revved their engines.   

Simon Andrews died on May 19 of injuries sustained two days earlier in a crash in the North West 200 superstock race.

As yesterday's procession got underway, 20-time TT winner John McGuinness tweeted: ‘Bit more popular than you thought daft lad!!’