Angus racer Andy Lawson received a hero’s homecoming as the motorcycling community and his home town of Arbroath turned out in tribute to the tragic star.
In remarkable scenes, an estimated 400 bikers from across Scotland, England and as far afield as Ireland accompanied the 25-year-old on his final journey to Arbroath after the crash which cost the young engineer his life in last weekend’s Ulster Grand Prix.
Along the length of the A92 from Dundee to Angus, the lengthy two-wheeled cortege followed the blue Lawson family race van bearing Andy’s body and driven by his father, former racer Mike, who was said to be “overwhelmed” by the turnout.
The early-evening summer sun and astonishing show of respect from his local community and the motorcycling world helped lift the darkness that descended following Andy’s tragic death.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=RLfvT6akYa0%3Frel%3D0
The convoy gathered in Dundee and followed Andy’s body home the length of the A92 to Arbroath.
Along the route, wellwishers stood at the roadside and on flyovers to witness the solemn but high-powered and noisy cortege.
Remarkable scenes in tribute to #Angus biker Andy Lawson Crowds awaiting the arrival of a huge convoy in #Arbroath pic.twitter.com/JAovZA1vfA
— Graham Brown (@C_GBrown1) August 12, 2015
But the revving of engines was drowned out by the spontaneous applause of hundreds of people who gathered alongside Arbroath’s Westway Retail Park to honour the “outstanding racer and great guy”.
Andy was killed on Saturday during the Supersport category race in the Ulster GP, one of the major events on the Irish road racing calendar.
He had survived a high-speed accident in this summer’s Isle of Man TT and his loss has been keenly felt well beyond Angus and in the close-knit world of road racing.
Long-time friend George Stewart, from Carnoustie, said he is sure Andy’s family would have been overwhelmed by the scale of last night’s events.
Bikers rev their engines in honour of biker Andy Lawson pic.twitter.com/zEumR9UM4G
— Radio Tay News (@RadioTayNews) August 12, 2015
“It’s a very difficult night for everyone who knew Andy but, at the same time, it is an incredible sight,” he said.
Fellow racer Scott Campbell, who made the journey from Otterburn in the north of England, said: “We started racing together and he was just an outstanding motorbike racer and a great guy.”
Kilmarnock’s Mark McGaw, a well-known figure in racing circles, added: “The biking community digs deep when something like this happens and Andy was very well respected, not just for what he did in racing but because of the type of guy he was.
“If his family needed any illustration of the level of respect in which he was held, I think they have seen that tonight.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SYpWPtGjdHU%3Frel%3D0