Irish road racer Martin Finnegan has died in an accident during the Tandragee 100.
The motorcycle road-racing community is mourning the death of one of its most popular competitors. Martin Finnegan died on Saturday, 3rd May in a crash at the Tandragee 100 meeting. The 29 year old rider from Lusk in Northern Ireland crashed at Marlacoo corner. Ryan Farquhar, who was racing in the same event, noticed that Finnegan’s bike had been dropping oil. The crash also injured three spectators, although none of their injuries are thought to be life threatening.
Finnegan was a highly successful rider, having won at the Manx Grand Prix and claimed first in an earlier race at Tandragee on Saturday. He was looking forward to the upcoming Isle of Man TT races where he hoped to have better luck than in previous years. A third place finish in the 2005 Superbike race was his best result on the island, along with a brace of fourth places. Although undoubtedly fast over the mountain circuit, Finnegan suffered from poor reliability.
Finnegan was a multiple Irish road racing champion, with 43 victories. For 2008 he was riding with the Ballymoney based JMF Millsport Yamaha team. The accident happened on the second lap of the Supersport 600 race. The race organisers have done much to improve safety in recent years but the accident will no doubt put the event under scrutiny. Last year there was another fatal crash, when John Donnan was killed. Maurice Wilson lost his life at the track in 2004, while Daniel Humphreys died following a crash in 1996.
Barry Symmons, a friend of Finnegan, described him in an interview on the BBC website as,
“… a really nice guy, and well respected by his peers, and someone with a true talent for road-racing.”
Following the accident the rest of Saturday’s meeting was cancelled out of respect for Finnegan. Since then tributes have poured in for the rider, including a statement from the team and supporters club of the Irish Superbike champion Michael Pearson:
“It was a pleasure to have known this giant of a man, who touched us all with his exploits on the track, and in his spare time where he was always willing to give advice and help at the drop of a hat.”
Guy Martin, a friend and fellow road racer, paid his own tribute to Finnegan at the Oulton Park British Superbikes round on Monday. He carried Finnegan's familiar number 45 on his bike during the meeting.
Finnegan will be remembered as a tenacious competitor and a great ambassador for motorcycle road-racing. He was confident of being able to challenge for victory at this year’s Isle of Man TT and will be sadly missed in the paddock. He leaves a wife and three-year old daughter.
