Hundreds join TT rider's widow for memorial lap

Hundreds of bikers, marshals and members of the public have joined TT rider Daniel Ingham's widow as she completed a memorial lap of the Isle of Man course, to "finish the lap he never got to."

Ingham, 33, died after crashing on the opening lap of a TT qualifying session on 27 May.

Helayna Ingham said the last few months had been "heartbreaking", but she and her two children had been carried by the support of "the incredible racing community".

"People travelling from all over to be there for Dan means more to me than I could ever put into words," she added.

Hundreds more people lined the course, to show their support as the procession completed the 37.5-mile lap.

"The Isle of Man, Manx Grand Prix and the TT were such a huge part of Dan's life," Helayna said.

"It was where he chased his dreams, made lifelong friendships and created some of his happiest memories."

Since her husband's death in May, Helayna said it had been "the hardest and most heartbreaking time of our lives."

Her family were "taking it one step, one day at a time," she said, carried by the support of family, friends and "the incredible racing community."

Jim Hunter, of the Manx Motor Cycle Club, on whose bike Helayna rode pillion for the lap, said the turnout "was incredible"

"For us all, these TT riders are heroes," he said. "But really this is the strength of feeling among the motorcycle community."

He said he hoped the scale of the response would "come home" to Helayna and the couple's children, showing them "how highly their father was regarded, and how wonderful of a person he was."

Ingham was an experienced Mountain Course competitor, having raced in the Manx Grand Prix since 2016 and he won the Senior race in 2024.

Helayna said that by organising this event, "we bring Dan back to the island he loved."

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