Rider is killed in motorbike race

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6628573.stm

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A competitor has died during racing at the Tandragee 100 Motorbike race on Saturday.

Ardglass rider John Donnan was killed during the Supersport 600 race at the road racing event.

The 42-year-old crashed at the chicane near the start-finish area when attempting to avoid another competitor who had lost control of his bike.

Mr Donnan was a former Irish Superbike Champion and had also run his own road racing team for a number of seasons.

He had competed in motorcycling events for 20 years.

Clerk of the course Bobby Edgar said that the meeting had been abandoned "as a mark of respect to John's family".

"The North Armagh Motorcycling Club extend its sympathy to John's family. We have done a lot of work on the circuit to improve safety but it's a dangerous sport," said Mr Edgar.

There had been an earlier crash on the same part of the circuit in Saturday's meeting although the rider was not seriously injured.