Former youth star is killed in NW200
By Sean Lawless on 18th May 16
Former top youth motocross rider Malachi Mitchell-Thomas was killed in a crash at the North West 200 road race on Saturday. He was 20 years old.
Malachi, from Chorley in Lancashire, crashed on the third lap of the Supertwins race on the approach to a section of the course known as Black Hill. The race was immediately red-flagged and he was treated by medics but succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
In an interview for the BBC, his father Kevin spoke about his son.
"I've lost my best friend, I've lost my son but he died doing what he wanted to do," he said. "He lived for riding - he'd raced since he was six years old. He was a fantastic personality. Not a bad bone in his body and no-one has a bad word to say about him."
Malachi gave up a promising youth motocross career to switch to supermoto where he had immediate success, so much so that the UEM gave him special dispensation to race a 450 in the European and Italian championships.
He came close to winning the 2013 European title but the following season switched to road racing where his talent quickly earmarked him as a future champion.
This year's NW200 was Malachi's debut in the event and he finished fourth in Saturday's opening Supersport race.
"He'd taken to the roads, the crowds had taken to him," said Kevin. "We didn't come here with a big business or a big bank account, we came here through hard work, grit and determination and mostly his desire to win races. I've never seen desire like he had.
"By the time we got to race day he was absolutely loving it. He just couldn't wait for the lights to go out and to try and get on the podium.
"My boy died at 20 but he made a massive impact on people's lives. Everybody that met him. The boy was a petrolhead, he just wanted to go faster and faster and faster."
Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster expressed her condolences to Thomas's family.
"It was with great sadness I learned of the death of Malachi Mitchell-Thomas following a tragic accident at Saturday's North West 200," she said. "My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and with the wider road racing family at this very sad time."
The Vale MXC owner Will Moore, a long-time friend and supporter of Malachi, paid tribute to the fast-rising star.
"This lad was like a little brother to me and I have watched him grow from a little boy into a fantastic young man," he said. "He thrived and was the most adaptive [rider] and a hard worker. We had a crazy bond - he respected me like I respected him - I am so proud to of known this fantastic lad."
No funeral arrangements have been announced but his father plans to scatter his ashes on the Isle of Man during next month's TT races.
