TRIBUTES have been paid to a rising star on the motorcycle circuit who was killed in a one-vehicle car crash in Ballyclare.
Jonny Buckley, who was in his mid-twenties and from Dunadry, Co Antrim, was killed on Monday night in a collision on the Braepark Road.
There was shock among the motorcycling fraternity yesterday as news spread of the death.
A former pupil of Ballyclare Secondary School it is understood he was employed at Module Road & Race, a business believed to be owned by his father. Having won a number of races in recent times on the short circuit scene, among his many accolades was the opening Supersport race at Bishopscourt last year, during the 2012 Adelaide Masters.
Tributes were last night paid on social networking sites, many of which included a reference to the number '222', believed to be the number Mr Buckley rode under.
One said: "Gutted to hear of the tragic death of Jonny Buckley #222. A hard rider on the bike and a great character off it. RIP lad".
Another added: "Terrible news this morning as we learnt that hugely popular bike racer Jonny Buckley has passed away."