Mike Kelly, once a top Isle of Man TT racer, has passed away 𒊎in Austral🐼ia at the age of 88.

His wife Patricia’s statement to the TT൲ Riders Association read: “It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that I lost my best friend and the love of my life.

“My husband, Mike Kelly, passed away ꧅at 7.10am Australian time.

“After many years of declining health a🤡nd several months of extreme pain, he is no💮w at peace.

“Mike was a hero to many 🅺of th✃e youngsters and not so young in the 50s and 60s.

“Now he wil♋l be with his beloved parents and his daughter Roz, who was 🐲taken from us at far too young an age.

“En෴joy your freedom from pain, my love. You will always be my hero. I’ll join you one day XXX.”

Kel♑ly was from the Is꧑le of Man, and made his Manx Grand Prix debut in 1957.

He was f🤪ifth in the 1960 Senior race, won by Phil Read, who went on to become a multiple-time TT winner.

Kelly made th🧔e podium at the☂ Manx Grand Prix twice.

He debuted at the I🃏sle of Man TT in 1959, became a Manx MCC committee member, ℱand was deputy clerk of the course.

In his later years, Kelly 𓆉and h🐻is wife would spend half a year each on the Isle of Man and living in Australia.

His daughter hopes he take his ashes for a final lap of the Mountain Course on a Norton later this year, according to the Isle𒐪 of Man Today.