More than 100 people turned out yesterday to the Southside Racetrack to pay tribute to Toriano Wilson.

The 14-year-old motorcycle star was killed in an accident on the track at the Red Bull AMA US Rookies Cup at the Virginia International Raceway last Sunday. The funeral will be held tomorrow at the Southside Racetrack and Toriano will be laid to rest in a St. George's cemetery.

His relatives, fans, and friends along with the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club (BMRC) will join his family as they ride and drive from Augustus Funeral home to the racetrack for the ceremony.

At the memorial, Toriano's dad, Dennis (Chicken) Wilson rode his son's bike around the track for the last time as on lookers tearfully cheered him on.

The young role model, nicknamed The Animal, was remembered by family, friends and the BMRC, as a shy, well-mannered young man with nothing but potential.

BMRC Public Relations officer Paul DeCouto said that the event was held for the BMRC family, the Wilson family and the Trott family to come together as well as Toriano's fans to show respect.

"It is a day of quiet. No one felt like racing but we still wanted to get together, so we are here to have the day blessed. To pay tribute to Toriano's life and to give praise to God. We would also like to show everyone what a family we are," he said.

In tribute to Toriano's life, there was a short ceremony and a moment of silence.

The crowd was honoured with two songs from Jonae Smith, who is also a motorcycle racer and Elder Kevin Santucci gave a brief sermon of comfort to the family and friends.

E-mails from around the world, that circulated the clubs website, were read at the memorial.

Fans, friends and motorcycle racing hopefuls sent their condolences and affirmed their appreciation for the contributions that Toriano made to the motorcycle racing circuit. Of the event, Toriano's mother, Tanya Wilson said: "I look at this event as being a comfort cause it shows me how much hearts he has touched. I am proud of Toriano because of how far he has come. He died doing what he loved to do. "He touched so many people and I draw strength from that, this made me happy."

Sheila Jones, BMRC secretary said of the bright teenager: "He was shy, but always smiling. He was a loving child. Racing was his passion and he enjoyed family and he was very respectful."

Mr. DeCouto said: "Toriano was a very humble and loving. He was connected with life. He was a man of few words but when he did speak he touched many lives.

"He was a great sportsman and he was very fun to be around."