Thoms is a lifelong friend of the clerk of the course and former road racer Dubliner Francis Everard, and was watching the race from Everard's garden which borders the course, when two riders collided. Parts of a racing machine cleared the safety bales in front of the garden and went on fire when Thoms was struck.

He was taken to hospital with first degree burns on the face and chest.

Sean Bissett, one of the leading motorcycling officials who was on the spot, said: "It really was a freak accident. We had the place well baled, but for some reason or other, one bike struck another and sailed over the protective fence.

"Francis is upset about what happened as Thoms was his guest in his home. Likewise, when Everard goes north for the Cookstown 100, he stays with Thoms."

Everard was too upset to speak about the accident, but some eyewitnesses said: "It was impossible to determine what actually happened for the bikes involved were going so quickly no one could say with any certainty as to whose fault it was."

The bikes involved were ridden by Lincoln rider Gary Johnson and Dubliner Michael Weldon who both escaped with minor injuries.

Johnson was having his first ride at the Skerries, having ridden in the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix, and was was at the Ulster Grand Prix launch last week. He will miss this week's Southern 100 in the Isle of Mann.

According to Bissett, it seems that part of an engine went on fire and sprayed Thoms with flames.

Other spectators tried to alleviate the situation by attending to Thoms, but the ambulance service soon took him away to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and then to St James, which has a specialist unit for treating burns.

Meanwhile Ryan Farquhar, who has been backed by Thoms over a period of time and is one of the leading riders at the Cookstown 100, was the man of the meeting after winning two races.

The main event, the Grand Final, was abandoned after two laps following the accident.

Thoms is the owner of the Royal Hotel in Cookstown and one of motorcycling's leading personalities. He sponsored Farquhar at various times in his (Farquhar's) career and he is, in many ways, a giant among those on the sidelines who keep motorcycling in Ireland going.

Farquhar, who won the Open race and the 600cc, headed today for the Isle of Man and the Southern 100.

He said: "I am hopeful of continuing this run of success which I have had since the Cookstown 100 in April."

Farquhar finished immediately ahead of Keith Amor in the open class on Saturday, with John Walsh in third place.

There was then the usual high speed display from William Dunlop and his brother Michael. They finished first and second in the 250cc class, with Farquhar in third place.

Michael Dunlop was the winner of the 125cc class from Graham Wilson in second and Samuel Dunlop third.

Then in the 600cc, it was Farquhar again winning from William Dunlop, with third place going to Johnson.