Bikers pay tribute to Scottish engineer killed in road accident

Ricky Gilchrist died after his motorbike hit a concrete barrier last month

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Friends and family of a Dubai resident who died in a motorbike accident last month held a memorial ride in his honour on Friday.

More than 100 bikers from motorcycle clubs in the UAE paid tribute to Scotsman Ricky Gilchrist, 46, who was killed on Maliha Road in Sharjah on August 9.

Gilchrist and Agnes often toured the emirates by motorbike. Courtesy: Agnes Kiss
Gilchrist and Agnes often toured the emirates by motorbike. Courtesy: Agnes Kiss

He sustained severe head and torso injuries when he collided with a concrete barrier. Despite the efforts of friends and paramedics at the scene, he died on the way to Al Dhaid Hospital in Sharjah.

His mother, father, sister and son, Jack, 22, flew in from Scotland to join the memorial ride on Friday. The group were due to set off from Dubai Motor City for Bab Al Shams to plant a ghaf tree in remembrance.

Ricky was grateful for everything he had, but most of all for the love of his family and many friends around the world

"Ricky was my best friend and made me smile every day," his partner, Agnes Kiss, 42, told The National.

“He was the kind of guy that could enter a room filled with strangers and make friends with everyone,” she said.

More than a hundred riders - many clad in the Scottish flag - cruised slowly along Al Qudra Road towards Bab Al Shams resort in honour of their friend.

As an active member of three popular motorcycle clubs in the UAE including Berets MC-UAE, Ducati Owners Club UAE and Dubai Riders Group, it proved a fitting tribute for Gilchrist.

“We still cannot believe he is no longer with us but he loved riding, so wherever he is he will be smiling," Ms Kiss said.

“He actually organised a memorial ride for a biker friend of his who died due to a car accident about three months ago. He said if anything ever happened to him he would want the same.”

Living in the UAE for 10 years, Gilchrist worked as an engineering manager in the oil and gas industry and spent many weekends out on the UAE’s roads riding, one of four Ducati bikes he owned. Every Friday, the couple joined the Dubai Riders Group and would ride to Kalba along the east coast.

On the morning of August 9, Ms Kiss didn’t join the group of 12 on the ride as the duo had just returned from a trip to Hungary and she needed to catch up on some work.

“Ricky sent me a video at about 9.10am when they had stopped for some food on the way back from the ride and he was in good form, his usual jokey self,” she said.

Shortly after, at around 9.30am, the accident happened. Ms Kiss received a call from one of Gilchrist's friend’s who was with him on the day. She only found out when she arrived at the hospital that he had succumbed to his injuries.

“Getting that news was the worst day of my life, but I am so grateful for our biker friends in the Dubai Riders Group for being with Ricky in his final hours and with me afterwards,” she said.

"Ricky was grateful for everything he had, but most of all for the love of his family and many friends around the world."

During a eulogy read out at his funeral in Scotland on August 29, Mr Gilchrist was described as a man who “made the most of his time on earth”.

As part of Friday’s memorial ride, the Scottish Association Dubai's bagpipe band played one of Gilchrist’s favourite songs, ‘Dark Island’.