An Angus rider has been named as the victim of an Irish motorcycling road race crash – just months after escaping serious injury in a high speed Isle of Man TT accident.
Andy Lawson, 24, from Arbroath, was killed on Saturday in a Supersport race at the Ulster Grand Prix over the Dundrod circuit in County Antrim.
An investigation into the circumstances of the fatal crash is under way.
Racing at the Ulster Grand Prix continued at the request of Mr Lawson’s family as race organisers paid tribute to a rider they said was a star of the future.
Noel Johnston, clerk of the course at the Ulster Grand Prix, said: “I am incredibly saddened by the news that Andy has succumbed to his injuries and my condolences are with his family, friends and race team. He was a lovely guy and an up and coming rider, definitely one to watch.
“I had a quick chat with him just before that Supersport race began and he told me how much he was enjoying his first experience at Dundrod, and that he was taking it easy while he learned the course.
“I can’t tell you how hard it is to continue the event in those circumstances but Andy’s family and race team were determined that the remainder of the event go ahead as planned.
“They believe it is what Andy would have wanted and we wanted to respect that.”
Mr Lawson, who worked with engineering firm Halliburton, was a rising star who won the prestigious Junior Manx grand prix in 2014.
In June he was airlifted to hospital on the Isle of Man after coming off his Kawasaki in the closing stages of the six-lap Superbike race around the legendary 37.7 mile course.
He had recorded a lap average of 125miles per hour before the TT accident.
The Ulster Grand Prix is one of the world’s fastest road races.
Last week TT star and TV personality Guy Martin was also the victim of a high speed crash, suffering broken bones after he lost control of his machine whilst in the lead of the Superbike race.