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Wife of Daley Mathison pays tribute

Wed, 05 Jun 2019

The wife of a TT rider who was killed in the Superbike race on Monday has paid to tribute to him.

 27-year-old Daley Mathison from Stockton   was killed in a racing incident at Snugborough, on the approach to Union Mills.

In a statement, Natalie Johnson-Mathison said: "With an 8 day old Daisy, we drove onto the ferry in 2016 and headed out to the Isle of Man. Having had a c-section, I must have been mad but I couldn’t not support my husband with his racing - we were a racing family after all."

"Fast forward to 2019 and although this started as always, with blood, sweat and tears to find sponsorship and a ride, everything was turning out to be his best year to date. Everything was lining up perfectly and having experienced false promises with racing early last year, Daley was once again finding his racing smile and confidence - having had this broken in 2018. He once again loved the sport, although still carrying a huge financial burden from a broken 2018 but we knew we had to keep going."

"Daley hoped that 2019 would make the world sit up and notice him. Putting him in the position for a free ride for 2020. That hopefully this was the last year of finding sponsors and using our savings to go racing. Me and Daisy believed in him. He was our hero and we would have done anything to get him racing. TT 2018 was actually paid for all on my credit card and the team was pulled together in 2 weeks - they did unbelievably well considering."

"No one sees what goes on behind the scenes - trust me, there were a lot of tears to get him to a seeded rider position but the look on his face - he was so unbelievably proud. Priceless."

"Daley was born to entertain. He always had a cheeky smile on his face but he was also very talented not only in riding but also technically he could build a bike and knew the ins and outs. For many years having to build and ride his own bikes. But 2019 was meant to be different. Turns out it certainly was but in a way we never ever expected. "

"We all know how wrong it can go but he would never wish to stop. He lost many a friend and witnessed stuff no one ever should on a track. How he ever got back on a bike I’ll never know. But it was his life and his passion. He wanted to be liked and he wanted to entertain. And he wanted to make a better life for me and for Daisy. We know he gave it 100% and we were with him every single step of the way. "

"The highest of highs and the lowest of lows. 

Daley falling asleep was a standard joke in our house. Unfortunately now, this is one sleep he won’t wake from. Our own sleeping beauty."

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