This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8146753.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Tyrone rider dies in race crash Tributes paid to NI motorcyclist
(about 20 hours later)
A Northern Ireland motorcycle rider, Andrew Neill, has been killed in a racing event in the Irish Republic. The road racing community has paid tribute to Tyrone motorcyclist Andrew Neill who was killed in County Westmeath.
Mr Neill died during a practice session at the Walderstown course in Athlone. Another rider was injured at the event. Mr Neill, 26, died when his motorcycle hit a tree during practice for a race in Athlone. Another man was injured.
It is understood Mr Neill, 27, from Newmills in County Tyrone, was killed when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a tree at about 1230 BST. Mr Neill was a team mate of local rider, Mark Young, from Cookstown, who died at the North West 200 in May.
Mr Neill was a well known rider on the Irish road racing scene and competed in his first Isle of Man TT in June. The North West clerk of the course Mervyn White said this was "another serious blow for motorcycling".
"Andrew was one of the up and coming road racers in our country," he said.
"He had great talent and he had great prospects for the future.
"He has competed at our event here at the North West 200 for a number of years. This year, eighth place was his best result at the event itself in the 250 class."
Mr Neill, from Newmills in County Tyrone, was a well-known rider on the Irish road racing scene and competed in his first Isle of Man TT in June.
He finished fourth in the 250cc class at this year's Billown TT event on the island, having also taken a fourth place at the Castletown circuit the previous year.He finished fourth in the 250cc class at this year's Billown TT event on the island, having also taken a fourth place at the Castletown circuit the previous year.
Mr Neill won the 250cc race at the Bush Road Races staged by the Dungannon club in County Tyrone last month. He won the 250cc race at the Bush Road Races staged by the Dungannon club in County Tyrone last month.
He was a regular on the Irish road racing scene and also competed at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix.He was a regular on the Irish road racing scene and also competed at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix.
He previously rode at the Manx Grand Prix but graduated to the TT Mountain Course this year, taking 19th in the Supersport A race and 16th in the Supersport B event.He previously rode at the Manx Grand Prix but graduated to the TT Mountain Course this year, taking 19th in the Supersport A race and 16th in the Supersport B event.
Mr Neill rode for the same team as Cookstown rider Mark Young, who was killed in an accident at the North West 200 in May.