THE IRISH biking community is mourning the sudden loss of road-racer Martin Finnegan.
The 29-year-old from Lusk, Co Dublin, died tragically when he crashed at the Tandragee 100 road race in Co Armagh.
Finnegan was on the second lap of the Supersport 600cc race when he crashed off the circuit at the Marlacoo corner.
Three spectators were also injured, one woman and two men, but their injuries are not said to be life threatening.
The popular biker had gained a spectacular victory in the opening race, the 43rd Irish road victory of his career.
He was racing for the Ballymoney-based JMF Millsport Yamaha team and he was in peak physical condition in preparation for the season ahead. It was a tragic loss at the very start of the road-racing season.
"This year, he was really looking forward to being on top, riding winning bikes and getting back to professional status which he warranted and it is tragic that this has happened," said friend, Barry Symons.
Finnegan began his biking career as a schoolboy motocrosser when his brother-in-law Alan Sweetman was racing grass track and motocross.
In an interview with Motors back in 2003, he said: "My first ride was on an 80cc Yamaha grass track bike worth £300. I was 10 at the time and it was absolutely fantastic. I was hooked from the beginning."
Philip Peters remembers Martin as a very gifted young rider. "I can picture him wheeling his motocross bike up the hill of The Commons in Lusk to ride around Billy Sweetman's field. He was very talented," says Peters.
His family, friends and supporters backed him from the very beginning. Round Tower Racing, named after the prominent tower in Lusk, was set up to fund and support Finnegan throughout each season's road racing.
In his 2003 interview he described the family-orientated set-up of his team. "My sister Geraldine handles my PR, my brother-in-law is a mechanic for me. My four brothers also lend a helping hand on the day, and friends help out with everything from pit boards to timekeeping. It's really a small family affair."
His talent was apparent very early on. His first race was in Mondello Park in 1997 on a TZ250.
The following year he finished a highly impressive second in the Junior Support Race at his first real road race at his local meeting, Killalane, in North County Dublin.
In 1999 he won the Irish Support Championship scoring a remarkable five wins as a newcomer. He also took fifth place in the Skerries 100 Junior Race competing alongside his hero Joey Dunlop.
"Martin actually led Joey for much of the race which was no mean feat for someone only in his first full year of racing," according to Paul Philips.
Finnegan raced in the Skerries 100 Junior event, taking third place behind Darran Lindsay and Gary Dynes.
That year he quickly graduated into the four-stroke machines and contested in the 600cc class on an ex-Richard Britton CBR Honda in 2000. He finished 17th in the Northwest 200.
He won the junior newcomers event at the Manx Grand Prix, also in 2000.
In his Ulster Grand Prix debut in 2001 he finished in the top 10 in his three races, including a seventh place in the production race.
His dream was always do well at the Isle of Man TT. In 2005, it came true and he stood on the podium with a third place.
He was also able to boast one of the strongest fan bases in the Irish road racing scene.
"Finnegan 45" t-shirts were a common sight the length of country ditches as he tackled the road circuits.
He went on to open a bike shop in November 2005 in Turvey Business Park near Blakes Cross, Lusk called "Extreme 45", named after his racing number.
A poignant tribute was paid to Finnegan during Sunday mass in Lusk and a picture was placed at the altar so locals could say a prayer for the young rider. Thousands of riders from all over the country escorted Finnegan from Belfast on his final journey home to Lusk on Monday.
The tragic news quickly spread through the racing fraternity and thousands of internet bloggers thronged the biking chat rooms to make their heartbreaking tributes to the rider.
Martin Finnegan is survived by his wife Brenda, daughter Rachel, mother Margaret, father Jim, sisters Elizabeth and Geraldine and brothers, James, Paul, Sean and Peter.