Ballymoney mayor Bill Kennedy: Safety concern

He said: "They should stay away as a protest at the lack of facilities for riders and spectators for road racing in Northern Ireland," he said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland sports minister, Michael McGimpsey, has extended his sympathy to the families of the two motorcyclists killed.

He said: "I was shocked and saddened to learn this morning of the deaths of Gary Dynes and Andy McClean in a road racing accident in Monaghan yesterday. I extend my deepest sympathy to their families.

"This is another tragic blow for the sport of motorcycle racing.

"It follows the very recent untimely death of Joey Dunlop which brought home to us all that danger and possible tragedy is never far away in what is one of the most spectacular and exciting of sports."

The latest fatalities come just weeks after the death of Joey Dunlop in a race in Estonia.

His brother Robert, who raced in Monaghan on Sunday, had decided to continue in the sport,

But on Monday, he said he now feared for the future of road racing and this Saturday's Ulster Grand Prix could signal his retirement.

Robert Dunlop said: "I think it will come to an end now.

"It's very regretful that I have to say that.

"It doesn't come from the heart, it comes from my head because it can't go on the way it's going."

Meeting was abandoned

Motorcycle race organisers in Northern Ireland have said they are to consider further safety measures following the deaths.

The two riders to be killed were among five racers injured in a pile-up during the opening lap of the 250cc race at Glaslough, County Monaghan on Sunday.

The race meeting was abandoned after the incident.

The deaths came six weeks after Ulster motorcycling hero Joey Dunlop was killed, bringing the number of Northern Ireland people killed in the sport to seven in 12 months.

The president of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland described the deaths as a "bitter blow" to the sport and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

Jim Creagh said race organisers had put safety measures in place during the past season but acknowledged these would have to be looked at again.

"We're going to have sit down again. We put certain measures in during this season and we thought we had certainly improved safety. But this is a very dangerous sport."

Mr McClean had been leading the race at the Monaghan track before the pile-up.

He was taken to Middleton army base by ambulance and airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he died.

Mr Dynes was operated on at Craigavon Area Hospital, County Armagh, but did not survive his injuries.

Denis McCullough, from Dromara, in County Down, was treated for leg and chest injuries.

His condition was described as "comfortable".

Two other riders Darren Lindsay from Lisburn, County Antrim, and Stephen Thompson from Newtownards, County Down, were also involved in the crash, but neither were seriously hurt.