Tributes paid to MGP rider Trevor Ferguson
TRAGEDY: Ferguson at Signpost Corner, close to the place he died
TRIBUTES to well-known road racer Trevor Ferguson, who died after crashing in Wednesday afternoon’s Manx Grand Prix Supertwin race, are flooding in.
Mr Ferguson, 48, was the uncle of TT star Ryan Farquhar who won the Senior Classic race earlier in the day. The married dad-of-three was riding one of his nephew’s KMR Kawasakis when he came off.
Mr Ferguson, of Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone, was lying in second place when he crashed at the Nook, on the approach to Governor’s Bridge, towards the end of lap two.
MGP organisers the Manx Motor Cycle Club issued a statement which said: ‘Trevor, a shop owner, was an experienced racer on the Mountain Course. He first competed in the 2006 Manx Grand Prix and took part in six meetings. He had a highest placed sixth in the 2008 Junior Manx Grand Prix and recorded 12 finishes around the Mountain Course including an 11th place in this year’s Junior Manx Grand Prix, for which he received a replica.’
Harvey Garton, the chairman of the Manx Motor Cycle Club, said: ‘Trevor was a major part of the Manx Grand Prix family and his support for the event was hugely appreciated. He was a very committed rider who loved racing around the Mountain Course on the Isle of Man and was enjoying a strong race today (Wednesday). On behalf of the Manx Motor Cycle Club I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to his family and friends.’
Friends and fans were quick to pay their respects to Mr Ferguson, including TT and MGP commentator Charlie Lambert, who wrote in his blog: ‘The motorcycling community of Ireland has lost yet another brave racer. Richard Britton, Martin Finnegan, Robert Dunlop, Andrew Neill, Victor Gilmore, John Donnan, Derek Brien, Wayne Hamilton, the list goes on and that’s only in recent years, not forgetting Joey. You wonder how much more the road racing community can take.
‘The thing is though, road racing is in the blood and if it’s in the blood you can’t extract it any more than you can remove someone’s DNA.
‘It doesn’t make it any easier at the moment though.’
Others took to Twitter, including government’s motorsport development manager Paul Phillips, who wrote: ‘My thoughts are with Trevor Ferguson’s family and friends after their loss today. Terrible news.’
A Tweet from Tyco Suzuki said: ‘Our thoughts, prayers and heartfelt sympathy goes out to Trevor Ferguson’s family circle tonight and to Ryan Farquhar and all at KMR Kawasaki.’
The Coroner of Inquests has been informed of Mr Ferguson’s death and an inquest will open in due course.
l Shortly after news broke of the tragedy, Ferguson’s nephew Ryan Farquhar announced his retirement from all forms of road racing.
The Dungannon man had been due to ride in Friday morning’s Classic Superbike race but the 10-time MGP winner - who had already vowed to cut back his racing committments from 2013 - has called time on his illustrious career.
‘I’m finished with racing. I’ve been racing a long time and I’ve lost a lot of friends in that time, but it’s different when it comes to your own doorstep.’ said Farquhar.
‘What I have witnessed in the past 24 hours I’ve never seen before. It’s the people who are left behind who suffer the most. This is a sport I love but I can’t risk putting my family through something like that any more – I have to think of them.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
