Motorcycle Road Racing has been left stunned following the death of Dr John Hinds following an incident at Skerries 100 just North of Dublin on Friday evening.

It is understood ‘Doc John’ as he was commonly known throughout the racing community, was travelling behind the 650cc practice session when the incident occurred.
He was treated trackside and then rushed to hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries.

An anaesthetist in the NHS Dr Hinds was an avid motorcycle racing enthusiast (even competed in a race meeting or two) and had saved the life of many a competitor through the rapid response intervention that the ‘Flying Doc’ and his medical colleague’s provided at race tracks across Ireland.

As recently as the North West 200 Dr Hinds attended the serious accident that left a spectator and two riders in hospital following a high speed accident.

In fact Dr John following the North West was instrumental in highlighting the need for an Air Ambulance in Northern Ireland at a meeting with MLA’s in an attempt to reduce the waiting time between an accident and arrival in hospital, as had been experienced in that North West incident.

Dr John also travelled the world lecturing on his experiences in the field of trauma cases, as it is a well-known fact that here in Ireland the road racing scene has one of the most well respected medical response teams with highly sophisticated equipment on hand in the event of a serious accident in the case of a serious incident.

It was always said that if you as a spectator took ill at a road race the equivalent of an accident and emergency unit was on hand and you could not be in better hands thanks to the experienced and well equipped medical teams that included Dr Hinds.

Unfortunately Dr John’s injuries were so severe that despite rapid response and evacuation to hospital he lost the battle for life and the world of motorcycle racing left in total shock.

The world of medicine and road racing is all the poorer today for the sad loss of Dr John Hinds, but nothing compared to the gap that is left within his family circle following this sudden, devastating and unexpected accident.

I and bikesportnews.com join the road racing community in mourning the loss of Dr Hinds and we would extend our sincerest sympathies to his family and friends.