Mr Goodall (67) sustained fatal injuries following a crash on his Matchless G50 at Ballacraine in the Senior Classic race on Monday evening.

A highly experienced rider, the veteran racer, from Haverfordwest, south-east Wales, was a previous winner of the 1983 Classic Senior race at the Manx GP on the Isle of Man.

He was awarded no less than 40 replicas during a decorated Manx GP career and his death has been described as a massive blow to classic racing.

Last night, Farquhar – who won Monday night’s delayed Senior Classic race – said: “John was a real gentleman and I got to know him through racing at the Manx GP.

“I started behind him in my first year of racing at the Manx in 2006 and I thought ‘it won’t take me long to get past this old boy’, but it took me a full lap before I got by him.

“Ever since then, I’ve had so much respect for him because he was an older man and yet he was a very fast rider on classic bikes.

“His death is a real blow for classic racing and again we’ve lost another rider through no fault of their own.”

It’s been reported that Mr Goodall lost control of his machine after coming into contact with oil dropped by another competitor’s bike.

Another Dungannon rider, John Burrows, who, like Farquhar, is due to ride in today’s Junior Classic Manx GP – described the evergreen rider as a “real stand up man”.

“It’s really bad news and there’ll be a cloud over the Junior Classic race because John was due to start from No.1 on the grid.

“It was one of those things and he couldn’t have done anything about it.

“He came into contact with oil on the road and that was it.

“It’s a sad day for classic racing at the Manx Grand Prix.”

Burrows, who qualified 10th for today’s Junior Classic event, is hoping to finish well inside the top 10 after he failed to start Monday’s Senior Classic race due to machine problems.

Farquhar is gunning for his second victory of the week today after setting the pace for the Junior Classic race during practice.

A number of less serious incidents were reported during Monday’s races, with Michael Sweeney sustaining minor leg injuries after crashing at the Mountain Box in the Newcomers race.

Les Vallender fell at Graham’s Memorial, receiving shoulder and rib injuries, while John Shipley, Dave Matravers and Frank James came off at the Verandah, Water Works and Windy Corner respectively, but all escaped unhurt.

q Today’s timetable: 10.15am – Junior/Lightweight Classic Race (4 laps); 1.15pm – Junior Race (4 laps).