Republic of Ireland rider James Walsh has died after an accident at the Tandragee 100 motorcycle road race on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Walsh crashed in the Senior Support race, which was then stopped by a red flag.<\/p>\n
He was treated on-site before being taken to hospital by air ambulance.<\/p>\n
The Cork rider had won the Junior Support race on Saturday before his fatal accident.<\/p>\n
The North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club (Tarmac Section) Ltd, which organises the Tandragee 100, confirmed Walsh’s death with “profound sadness”.<\/p>\n
“We are completely heartbroken by this tragic loss, and our entire club is mourning a truly valued member of our racing community,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
“Road racing is a sport built on shared passion and tight bonds, which makes a loss like this resonate deeply with every rider, official, and fan. <\/p>\n
“Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies are with his [partner] Claire, his mum Geraldine, the rest of his family, friends, and his own club members during this incredibly devastating time.<\/p>\n
“We want to express our immense gratitude to the MCUI UC [Motorcycle Union of Ireland, Ulster Centre] Medical Team, the air ambulance crew, and the medical staff who fought so hard to save him.”<\/p>\n
After a delay of two hours as medics attended to Walsh, an attempt to restart the Senior Support race took place, but it was stopped by a second red flag.<\/p>\n
Walsh is the first rider to die after an accident at the Tandragee 100 since Italy’s Dario Cecconi was involved in a crash<\/a> in 2017.<\/p>\n He is the second rider to lose his life in an accident at a road race in Northern Ireland this year after Czech Republic rider Kamil Holan died in an incident<\/a> at Station Corner at the North West 200 in May.<\/p>\n