Your tributes to Ronnie Smith

Tributes have been flooding in for Ronnie Smith, TT racer and Performance Bikes road tester, in the wake of his death at the weekend.

Hundreds have posted their thoughts on the news bulletin board of this website.

Examples follow, but there are many more on the board itself. To see them, and to add your own, follow the link, right.

kev the wobbler jones: Yet again we have lost one of our kind, it is a part of our passion that danger is never far away. The thing with Ronnie is that he always seemed to be up for a laugh, and of course was fast, which some of us wish we could be. He will certainly be missed by bikers in general, but of course more by his family, to whom i offer my sincerest heart felt condolences.

Mr supermoto: I’ve just heard the news about the passing of Ronnie Smith and my deepest sympathies go to all of his family. Performance Bikes and the racing scene will be a much sadder place without those black rimmed glasses and bleached blonde mohawk we have all come to know and respect.

Droog: My thoughts are with his family. I will certainly miss him lofting the front end of a Goldwing and tearing through the streets of Macau. PB won’t be the same without him.

Tring: Have been an addict of Performance Bikes magazine for years. I grew up reading the exploits and ramblings of a bunch of cretins you couldn’t help but admire and agree with. The passing on of technical guru John Robinson was a great, great loss to motorcycling. The leaving of Trevor Franklin to pie factories new was not quite as sad but a loss all the same. And now we learn of the sad and unfortunate demise of Simon Smith, aka Ronnie, aka “too famous Ron”. How cruel life is. Condolences to his family. I hope the excruciating pain of loss is short.

Willmill: Having read PB since the early nineties I have come to associate Ronnie with all that the mag stands for. My most sincere regrets and sympathies go to his family.

the koruma kid: I started a thread on “R1-forum.com” about the tragic death of our beloved Ronnie Smith and the response has been amazing, and not just from us Brits but from people all over the world. Ronnie’s exploits on two wheels have reached the furthest parts of the globe, so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you godspeed ronnie from me and all my fellow R1 owners from all over the world. We love you

Shale shifter: A legend has gone. Sympathies to Ronnie’s family.

jonny 2fireblades We were fortunate enough 2 have met Ronnie, and watched him in action at scarborough! Came off his bike, last on lap but caught up! determination and dedication! Not just 2 bikes but family too. great guy!

SIMON ” RONNIE ” SMITH – TT racer and Performance Bikes magazine road tester – died in a road accident on Friday night near his home in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

Ronnie, 41, rode at every TT since 1993, winning eight silver replicas and nine Bronze replicas. In 2002 he won the 750cc class in the Production TT, and was the fastest 750cc rider in the Senior TT. He also regularly rode at the Macau TT, was an accomplished competitor in British supersports and superstock racing, and made his British superbike debut at Donington last year on a GSX-R1000.

Outside his racing, he’ll be remembered for his exploits as a freelance rider working for MCN’s sister publication Performance Bikes, where his familiar ” Magic Roundabout ” helmet became famous enough to inspire a production replica. He worked for Performance Bikes from 1995 until his death.

Ex-PB editor Mark Forsyth is planning to set up a fund to help Ronnie’s partner Jane and two children, Harry and Fred. Anyone wanting to make donations can contact MCN for more details. His funeral is expected to take place later this week.

Post your messages and tributes on the News message board by following the link on the right