Northern Ireland

Dario Cecconi dies following Tandragee 100 crash

Dario Cecconi has died following the crash at the Tandragee 100 
Dario Cecconi has died following the crash at the Tandragee 100  Dario Cecconi has died following the crash at the Tandragee 100 

AN ITALIAN motorcycle racer who died after a Co Armagh road race has been described as a "much-loved competitor" who felt at home in Northern Ireland.

Dario Cecconi (38) died in hospital after suffering critical injuries on Saturday in the last lap of the senior support race at the Tandragee 100.

The death is the latest to rock a sport that has been hit by a series of fatalities in recent years, and will again prompt questions about the safety of racing motorcycles at high speed on roads.

Clerk of the Tandragee course Anne Forsythe paid tribute to Mr Cecconi, saying he would be sadly missed.

"Dario was a much-loved competitor, who called the Tandragee 100 his 'home', did much to promote the Tandragee 100 across Europe and even had a tattoo of the Tandragee 100 course on his arm," she said.

She added: "Dario was an experienced competitor who had competed in a number of Irish road races, this year being his sixth year at Tandragee."

His brother Luca posted on Facebook that for his family the tragic death was "the worst day of our lives".

He said his brother had died enjoying "one of his greatest passions, surrounded by people who love him in the place that he loves".

Philip McCallen, a former road racer who lives in Tandragee, said Mr Cecconi was a "great figure at the event".

He said the incident appeared to be an "unfortunate accident", but there would be a full investigation.

"Organisers work day and night to make this event and this sport safer. Our riders have a passion for what we do and Dario loved doing it," he told the BBC.

Mr Cecconi's death is the first at the Tandragee 100 since 2014 when rider Noel Murp