Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
Malcolm Offline
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Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
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The rider involved in a serious crash at the Tandragee 100 on Saturday has been named as Italian competitor Dario Cecconi.

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.


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Kyle White
23-04-2017, 06:49 PM
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RE: Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
Hopefully Dario recovers from his injuries fingers crossed for him.





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24-04-2017, 08:20 AM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
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Prayers as Italian rider Dario Cecconi fights for his life in hospital

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.”


A Just Giving page has been set up to help raise £2,500 for Mr Cecconi’s family.

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Kyle White
25-04-2017, 11:05 AM
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RE: Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
Just seen on the Tandragee Facebook page that Dario hasn't made it. RIP Dario - many condolences to his family and friends.
25-04-2017, 11:33 PM
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RE: Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
Such sad news RIP Dario.
26-04-2017, 09:05 AM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
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Italian racer Dario Cecconi has passed away


Italian rider Dario Cecconi has died as a result of injuries he sustained in a crash at the Tandragee 100 on Saturday.

The news was announced on Tuesday night in a statement from the event organisers, the North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club (Tarmac Section).

The 38-year-old crashed on the final lap of the Senior Support race and suffered serious injuries. He passed away in Craigavon Area Hospital.

The statement, released by Clerk of the Course Anne Forsythe, said: 

“The North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club (Tarmac Section) Ltd deeply regrets to announce that Dario Cecconi, a 38 year old competitor from Italy, who sustained serious injuries after the chequered flag had gone out for the Senior Support Race on Saturday 22nd April 2017, has succumbed to his injuries.

“Dario was a much loved competitor, who called the Tandragee 100 his ‘home’, did much to promote the Tandragee 100 across Europe and even had a tattoo of the Tandragee 100 Course on his arm.

“Dario started racing for fun at track days in Tuscany on a 600cc Suzuki and at the end of 2009, he decided that road racing was what he wanted to concentrate on. On the 12th June 2010, Dario set out on his first road race, Carpasio-Pratipiani.


When Dario first came to Tandragee in 2012 and was asked for his opinion of Irish Road Racing he replied: 

‘I completely fell in love with the Irish road racing world! I like the riders, the courses, the spectators and everyone in and around the paddock...I come in my van, by myself, for about 45 hours only to travel 45 hours back home again and I love it. There is a special atmosphere we can find only there. No other tracks give us this thrill, and no other meetings give us the sense of being part of a family’.”

Forsythe added: 

“Dario will be very sadly missed by the Club. He was an experienced competitor who had competed in a number of Irish road races; this year being his sixth year at Tandragee.

“The officials and the club extend their sympathy to Dario’s family and partner at this saddest of times.”


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Kyle White



On behalf of TTwebsite and all who use the Forum I wish to extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Dario at this terribly sad time.

R.I.P. Dario

(This post was last modified: 26-04-2017, 10:23 AM by Malcolm.)
26-04-2017, 10:21 AM
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#7
RE: Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
[Image: dariocecconiblack.jpg]

Cecconi family plan final lap of honour at Tandragee 100


The family of the late Dario Cecconi have arranged a final lap of honour to take place around the Tandragee 100 route tonight (Thursday) in memory of the former rider.

The popular Italian lost his life on Tuesday following injuries sustained at last weekend’s road race meeting. 

Tandragee 100 clerk of the course Anne Forsythe has confirmed the farewell tribute to Cecconi. 

“Dario’s partner Francesca and his brother Luca have requested the arrangements to say farewell to Dario,” she said. “It is intended that Dario will do a final lap of honour of his beloved Tandragee 100 and they would invite anyone who wishes to pay their respects to attend on Thursday, April 27 at approximately 7.30pm. 

“The cortege will approach the Tandragee course from Cooleyhill Crossroads and travel along the Markethill Road, stopping momentarily at the scene of the incident and will then proceed to the Start Line on the Drumnamether Road, where a Priest will say a blessing. 

“Everyone can then join the cortege as it proceeds onwards to complete the lap, leaving the course by turning left at Cooleyhill Crossroads. 

“The family have requested that they be allowed to travel onwards alone and all other vehicles are to turn right at Cooleyhill Crossroads and disperse safely. 

“All other arrangements are strictly private.


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27-04-2017, 10:59 AM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Tandragee - Critical crash rider named as Italian Dario Cecconi
[Image: dariocecconifuneral1.jpg]
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.

Tribute lap held in memory of Italian racer Dario Cecconi

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. 

[Image: dariocecconiincoffin.jpg]
An Ulster flag is draped on the coffin of Dario Cecconi during a service at the start line
on theTandragee 100 circuit in Co Armagh.
 

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. 

[Image: dariocecconicheqflag.jpg]
A chequered flag is waved as the hearse carrying the coffin of Italian rider Dario Cecconi
crosses the finish line during a lap of honour at the Tandragee 100 circuit. 

“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.”

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Kyle White
28-04-2017, 12:23 PM
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