A motorcyclist was killed in a warm-up for a St. John Ambulance fundraiser race meeting yesterday.

Marvin Robinson, 34, died after his 600cc motorbike collided with a fence during training. He was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by ambulance but medical staff could not save him.

A Police spokesman said last night: “It appears that around 11 a.m. today, a single vehicle collision occurred at the Southside Raceway during a practice lap.

“It appears that the victim, a 34-year-old Warwick man, lost control of the 600cc motorcycle he was riding while attempting to negotiate a corner and collided with a fence.”

Mr. Robinson was a champion rider, winning last year’s 600cc Superbike class, and last night the racing community was mourning its loss.

Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club president David Jones and fellow motorcyclist Paul DeCouto were too upset to comment.

Friends however, paid tribute to a loving father and loyal companion who was always ready to help others.

Mr. Robinson, who was also known as “Skinny”, leaves two sons, Markeem, 13, and Dameko, 14.

Girlfriend Tirsite Selassie, 26, said: “He was very giving person, always wanting to do for others, and he was the best father.

“He also liked to crack a joke and if a situation was serious he liked to make it funny.”

Miss Selassie said that since taking up motorcycling two-and-a-half years ago, Mr. Robinson felt it had given him a new purpose in life.

“He loved riding,” she said. “He felt it changed his life for the better and he felt he was a new person. It gave him drive and a positive outlook on life.

“He liked to get up early to go running and get physically fit in the gym. Everyday he liked to go riding.

“His younger son Markeem was getting involved and was supposed to start this season. They even had matching bikes, matching helmets and gloves.”

Johnnie Burgess, 35, described Mr. Robinson as “brilliant” on the race track.

He said: “He devoted a lot of time to his sport. But he was an A1 genuine person. He had the biggest heart. The friends he had all respected him and loved him to the best.”

Anwar Hunt, 34, who used to work with Mr. Robinson as a waiter at the Fairmont Southampton Princess, added: “He was a very good friend, we were very close.”

Michael Roberts, 41, said: “I watched him grow up. I was like a father and a brother to him and showed him how to play football. He had the biggest heart ever. I am very upset.”

Mr. Robinson, of Hillview, was due to take part in yesterday’s inaugural St. John Ambulance Race Day at Bermuda Motor Sports Park.

The event was to feature the Island’s top go-karters, motocross and motorcycle riders, as well as US Superbike 600cc rider Alan Nelson. All proceeds were to go to the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

As he said he was both shocked and saddened by Mr. Robinson's untimely death, Sports Minister K.H. Randolph Horton extended his deepest sympathy to the young father's family:

"My heart goes out to all who loved Mr. Robinson. It always saddens me when Bermuda loses yet another young person prematurely."

Mr. Horton added the father of two's death was especially shocking since he had been at the Motor park earlier in the day to open the season for the Bermuda Motorcycle Race Club:

"I never would have imagined that the day would have ended like this."

The Police Traffic Enforcement Unit said “inquiries are underway” into the accident.