Mike Kelly, once a top Isle of Man TT rac🌞er, has passed away in Australia at the age of 88.

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

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

“After many years of declining health and several months o♛f extreme painꦍ, he is now at peace.

“💮Mike was a hero to many of the youngsters and not so young in the 50s and 60s.

“Now he will be with his beloved parents and his daughter Roz, who was taken from𒊎 us at far too young an age.

“Enjoy🏅 your freedom from pain, my love. You will always be my hero. I’ll join you one da𒐪y XXX.”

Kelly was from the Isle of Man,🐻 and made his Manx Grand Prix debut ⛦in 1957.

He was fifth in the 1960 Senior race, won by Phil Read, who went on to become a multiple𒁃-time TT winner.

Kelly made the podꩵium at the M🦩anx Grand Prix twice.

He debuted at the Isle of Man TT in 1959, became a Manx MCC committee member, and was deputy cleꦅrk of the course.

In his later years, Kelly and his wife would spend half a year each on the Isle🍸 of Man and li꧑ving in Australia.

His daughter hopes he♑ take his ashes for a final lap of the M🅷ountain Course on a Norton later this year, according to the Isle of Man Today.