Southern 100 Racing is deeply saddened on receiving the news of the death of Ian Bell, whilst racing in the second Sidecar TT on Friday 10th June.

Ian made his Southern 100 debut in 1979, finishing third in the Solo Cham-pionship race, returning each year and finally took the prestigious Solo Championship title in 1987.

A racing accident curtailed his ‘solo’ career and the Bedlington man returned ten-years later, in 1997 as a Sidecar driver taking second place in the Sidecar race.

Twelve months later he finished second in the Sidecar Championship race.

1999 was to see the popular sidecar driver, with Neil Carpenter in the chair take the Sidecar Championship race, becoming the first competitor in the history of the Southern 100, to win both the Solo and Sidecar Championship titles to date.