A popular face around the Irish road racing paddocks, Mr Cecconi (38) remains in a critical condition in hospital.

It is understood two riders were involved in the crash, which happened on the approach to Bells Crossroads on the final lap of the Senior Support race. The second rider escaped unscathed.

The main Superbike race and the Supertwin event were abandoned, while the section of the 5.3-mile course where the incident happened remained closed off for some time afterwards as an investigation was carried out.

Mr Cecconi was transported to Craigavon Area Hospital under a police escort.


Bad weather also hampered the event on Saturday, with heavy rain showers persisting for most of the day.

The Tandragee 100 was the first race on the 2017 Irish National calendar. Cookstown hosts the next meeting from April 28/29 in Co Tyrone prior to the North West 200 in May.

Kyle White

The road racing community is praying for the recovery of popular Italian rider Dario Cecconi, who sustained serious injuries following a crash at the Tandragee 100 on Saturday.

On Monday, the 38-year-old remained in a critical condition in Craigavon Area Hospital, where he has been treated since the incident.

Mr Cecconi is understood to have suffered severe head and chest injuries after crashing on the final lap of the Senior Support race on the approach to Bells Crossroads. A second rider escaped with minor injuries.

The final two events on the schedule – the Supertwins and feature Superbike races – were abandoned and an investigation was conducted at the scene, which remained sealed off for some time after the roads around the 5.3-mile course had officially opened.

Clerk of the Course Anne Forsythe told the News Letter she had been to see Mr Cecconi in hospital.

“He is such a lovely lad who just loved racing at Tandragee,” she said.

“He was always happy and was never without a smile on his face. He did a lot to promote Tandragee across Europe.

“I went up to see him in hospital but he is very poorly. He’s still critical and his family are in the process of travelling over. It’s best that I don’t comment on what may or may not have happened while an investigation is on-going.

“We will need an interpreter so we can talk to his family first because I would rather that they heard the details from us first-hand,” she added.

“It’s just been very unfortunate and it’s one of those things that you can’t legislate for.”

Forsythe, who was acting as the Clerk of the Course for the second time at her home race meeting, admitted the remainder of the day’s racing was in jeopardy due to the weather, even before the serious crash late in the afternoon.

“With the weather, it was getting worse as the day went on. Even if the incident hadn’t been quite so serious, I’m not sure we would have got through to the end because it was so bad,” she said.

“We were already at the stage of getting updates on the conditions around the course. The event had been declared a wet race earlier, but we wanted to have a look at the situation and make a plan.

“Personally I’m not one for calling off racing in the wet if the condition of road is good. Conditions had been improving slightly during the Senior Support race, but after the incident occurred things began to deteriorate again,” she added.

“It was a disappointing end to the day because things had looked so promising earlier. In terms of spectators, I’m in no doubt that the crowds were up on last year.

“It reminded me of the ’80s on Saturday because there seemed to be such big crowds. It’s not official, but I would say there must have been over 15,000 people at the event.”

Forsythe thanked the spectators for turning out in force to support the event after recent appeals for fans to get behind the sport in an effort to help combat soaring insurance and organisational costs.

“After all the effort we put in and the help from volunteers and other clubs, it was shaping up to be a fantastic start to the season. The spectators came out and were buying programmes and the club is very appreciative of their support.

“Many stayed when the rain came on and they were very patient. The crowds helped created a terrific atmosphere and I want to thank them for their patience on the day,” she added.

“Sadly, we just have to gather ourselves up again and move forward.”

Italian motorcycling website, Road Racing Core, posted an article on Monday saying Mr Cecconi was ‘surrounded by his most trusted Northern Ireland friends’ while his family makes the trip over from Italy.

The website reported: “As the family is reaching him, Dario is not left alone for a minute, surrounded by his most trusted Northern Irish friends in a land he calls ‘my second home’.

“Escorted to the Craigavon hospital by the police, Dario was subjected to the treatment of the Northern Ireland staff but, after more than 36 hours, the situation remains very critical.”

Kyle White

Italian racer Dario Cecconi has passed away

Kyle White

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Cecconi family plan final lap of honour at Tandragee 100

Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains were escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit
by motorcyclists and fans during a tribute lap on Thursday night.

A tribute lap in memory of Italian racer Dario Cecconi was held on Thursday night at the Tandragee 100 course where he lost his life in a crash last Saturday. 

 A hearse carried the 38-year-old’s remains on one final lap of the 5.3-mile circuit he loved so dearly. 

 

Hundreds of bikers and fans turned out to pay their respects. 

Mr Cecconi, from Livorno in Tuscany, crashed on the final lap of the Senior Support race. He was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries and his death was announced on Tuesday night. 

His friend, Marta Coviola – who runs the Italian motorcycling website Road Racing Core – attended the tribute lap and told the News Letter Dario loved Northern Ireland and Tandragee especially more than his own hometown. 

“I’ve known Dario since 2011 and I met him in person for the first time in 2012 at the North West 200. He was where the Italians were parked in the paddock and Stefano Bonetti was there. He was always full of news for me,” she said. 


“He came six times to the Tandragee 100 and two or three times to the North West, or more. Also Killalane and then the ‘Ulster’ last year for the first time, which was one of his dreams. Another dream was the Southern 100 but he didn’t go there. 

“In 2010 he decided to come here because he loved Northern Ireland. He was never into short circuits or anything. The Manx was another dream but he didn’t have sponsors or anything for money. He was not able to ask for money! 

“He loved this place almost more than his hometown and said it was his second family. 

He was almost more understood here than in Italy. He goes to the races alone with his van and no mechanics and if you say this in Italy, everyone judges you, like you are stupid. They say, ‘this is not the way’.” 

Marta learned the seriousness of Dario’s injuries almost immediately as she acted as a translator for those who had accompanied him to the hospital. She has vowed to attend the Cookstown 100 this weekend after booking her trip some time ago. Although she admits she was unsure whether or not to go to the race, she feels it is what Dario would have wanted. 

“Unfortunately I heard the news straight away because I was a translator for the people who were in hospital with him and also Francesca [Benvenuti, Dario’s partner] and Luca [Dario’s brother]. 

“We had a group on Facebook and I was constantly translating from English to Italian. It was very hard, unbelievable,” she said. “I was not sure to come to Cookstown but I think Dario would have liked that.” 

Marta’s brother, Nicola, said he was moved to see so many people turning out to say a final farewell to Dario. 

“To see all these people here for him, a single Italian from nowhere, there is so much love for him. It’s good.”

Kyle White