A PROMISING MOTORCYCLIST from County Down was pronounced dead this evening after a high-speed crash at an event called Race of the South in Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
The rider, confirmed as Bruce Moulds, of Hillsborough, Lisburn, was competing in the 125cc Moto Championship at the annual meet, which was celebrating its 40th year today.
A Garda spokesperson told TheScore.ie, “A male motorcycling competitor in his 20′s was fatally injured after an incident at the Walderstown motorocycle road races — The Race of the South — in Athlone, Westmeath today.
“He was one of the riders taken part in the seventh race of the day. The incident occurred at approximately 1:20pm. He sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and pronounced dead at 5:30pm.”
Moulds finished second in the last event he completed, at the Skerries 100 road races in Dublin on 6 July.
The Garda spokesperson added that health and safety authorities, along with An Garda Síochána and race officials will carry out a full investigation at the site of the crash.
Tributes to the young motorcyclist have been left on his Facebook page and by fellow competitors and supporters on Twitter.