Sadly in May of last year we lost a great and upcoming two stroke racer, in Mark Young at the north west 200. I had got to know Mark a couple of years earlier through his crash at Killalane, when his machine seized on the practice laps, that year Mark had really taken to the roads in big style, in the junior support class and was on top form that weekend, and had thrown the gauntlet down to his rivals, “come and catch me.”
I went to visit mark in Beaumount hospitial, and struck up a friendship with him and his family which still lasts to the present time.
On calling to the Everard household at Dukes Bends on Sunday, to get an update on Mark I met his mother Alma, and father Neill, and later his girlfriend Tara, we sat and laughed and joked for a good few hours some stories were unreal to say the least. Mark was released on the following Wednesday afternoon and called into the Dukes Bends household, abeit on his back in the camper van, he was in pain but smiling, as he did he bid his goodbyes, and thanked everyone for all that they had done for him, and his family.
From this point on I had made another new friend, to add to the biggest and friendliest family in any sport that I have ever known, the “ROAD RACING FAMILY”.
Mark was meticiolous in machine prepration, never missing anything, he had the hands of a genius, when it came to the 2 strokes, always tinkering with it, to get the best out of it, one thing that stood out was his willingness to help out fellow riders, with machine problems, always smiling, that quiet voice “Whats wrong wit her?
Mark had this ability to work at his bike, and others, unlike many others who hoped someone would help them sort out the problem, Mark was very indebited to John Burrows for the loan of his machine , this was Johns way of saying Thanks to Mark, as he had helped sort out problems John was having with his machine.
Mark secured his first major sponsorship from D & G Wray Transport, Dungannon and the meticlous prepration, and presentation of the machines were second to none, Derek took Mark under his wing and treated him like a son, something Mark was very indebited to, the D & G Wray Transport team.
To me Mark Young will be remembered as always smiling, never hiding in the paddock when he saw me coming near, but he approached me just to say “Thanks “and have a general chit chat, at the age of 22 Mark brought the road racing family out in strength to his familys home in Cookstown.
Hundredes lined the Cookstown streets, to remember a lad of just 22, who never knew how many Friends he really had.
Competitors from all across the country were there to pay their respects
To Alma and Neill and the Young family circle, to his girlfriend Tara, his mentor Paul Maguire and the Maguire family.
Mark will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
R.I.P #88 Mark "Sparky" Young
Words by Joe Wright.
