HUNDREDS of bikers said a final farewell to a star motorcyclist who died in an horrific accident.

The noisy spectacle was a fitting memorial to much-loved motorbike racer Malachi Mitchell-Thomas who died after a crash in the Supertwins street race in Northern Ireland on Saturday May 14.

People had gathered from as far as Ireland to accompany the former Rivington and Blackrod High School pupil’s cortege from Rivington through Horwich to his funeral service at Charnock Richard Crematorium at 3pm yesterday.

Malachi, who was born and raised in Horwich and moved with his father Kevin Thomas to Adlington about 18 months ago, was a renowned up-and-coming star on the motorbike racing circuit with many of his triumphs featuring in the sports pages on The Bolton News.

Bikers on all types of motorcycle, trikes and Harley Davidsons created a moving procession along with drivers in high-powered sports cars and modified hot hatchbacks.

In a poignant mark of respect, pupils at his old secondary school lined up outside the school gates to clap as his cortege passed by.

Outriders were provided by the Northwest Blood Bikes Lancashire and Lakes charity with the assistance of Lancashire Constabulary.

Lead marshal and charity secretary Graham Miller said: “We expected 500 vehicles and we got that. The turnout has been amazing. We were probably two miles long when we got rolling. Malachi’s family said ‘Bring the noise’ and I think they have done it with style.”

Hundreds of mourners filled the crematorium and its surroundings for the short touching service, a mix of tributes and music.

Many were wearing their racing colours or Malachi’s favourite colour of pink which he carried through to his helmet design.

Others wore clothing referencing his chosen hashtag of #666 which was reflected in the floral tribute next to the coffin in the hearse.

One of Malachi’s Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing’s bikes was put on display with one of his helmets resting on the seat and a pit board resting against the front wheel to help mourners remember the spirited competitor.

Malachi’s father gave a short eulogy and started with a joke: “I won’t keep you long as Malachi would be moaning that we’re losing valuable drinking time.”

Relatives, schoolfriends and members of the biking community were among those who listened intently to Mr Thomas’s words.

He continued: “At the age of three or four he said: I’m going to have a superhuman body.

“He lived as that man. For a moment in his life he turned into the person he had dreamt of. The boy was super happy and totally content. He did what he did best. I can’t thank everybody enough for coming. He would have been made up.”

Mourners smiled and hugged as they were played a recording of a news report and Malachi’s post-race interview after he won the 2015 Senior Manx Grand Prix and clocked the fastest lap with a speed of more than 122.2mph.

Two of those in attendance were young women who had attended high school with the Kawasaki racer and had made special pink T-shirts with his photograph on to wear in his honour.

Eleanor Strang, aged 19, said: “I knew him since Year 7 and he’s been my best friend.

“He gave me his first set of dog tags when he started racing and we were 11 or 12.

“I wanted to go and see him race but I never actually got the chance. It’s been amazing turnout and I can’t believe that so many people came.”

One of the dog tag set was inscribed with the epithet: ‘Life is short/Work hard/Play harder/Ride hardest/Live longer.’ Karen Lee, aged 20, said her uncle’s firm was one of Malachi’s helmet sponsors.

She said: “He was a wonderful lad. I can’t think anybody could have a bad word to say about him.

“He’s going to be missed by so many people.”