Hundreds of bikers join funeral cortege for King’s Lynn superbike racer Mark Fincham

Hundreds of bikers followed Mark Fincham's funeral cortege. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Mr Fincham died when he was involved in a collision with another rider, as he raced at the Thruxton Motorsport Centre in Hampshire earlier this month.

The 37-year-old ex-marine was riding for True Heroes Racing, a team of ex-service personnel who have suffered severe injuries, when the crash happened.

Bikers arriving outside the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaywood, for the funeral of super bike rider Mark Fincham. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Mr Fincham's life was celebrated at the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in King's Lynn.

More than 200 motorcycles thundered down Wootton Road behind the hearse and cars carrying mourners, after meeting at Mr Fincham's family home in South Wootton.

Bikers outside the church for the funeral of super bike rider Mark Fincham. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Some of them had travelled many miles, including riders from as far as North Wales, Chester and Derbyshire, as well as many from closer to Lynn.

Sarah Hudson, who organised the escort, said: 'There were two sides to Mark, forces and bikes. They're both families. We just wanted to give him the send-off he deserves.'

The funeral of super bike rider Mark Fincham at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaywood. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

As the bikes prepared to fall in behind the hearse, many riders sported the iconic emblem of Mr Fincham's former regiment, the Green Beret.

Former marine 'Blinks' Blinco said he had answered the call on social media to attend and pay his respects. He added: 'Once a marine, always a marine. It's a brotherhood thing.'

The funeral of super bike rider Mark Fincham. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

After the hour-long service at the catholic church, the procession sent off for the cemetery at South Wootton, where Mr Fincham was laid to rest at a private family burial. Bikers set off for the Butterfly Hotel, on Hardwick Narrows, to celebrate Mr Fincham's life.

Mr Fincham left the army in 2007, after having part of his left leg amputated after a car crash. He worked his way up to becoming a fully-fledged superbike rider before crashing in the Pirelli Superstock 1000 Championship on Sunday, August 6.

True Heroes Racing's Mark Fincham. Picture: Barry Clay (Image: Archant)

Friends took to social media to pay tribute. One, Malcolm Barker, said he was 'a role model and hero to disabled and amputees the world over'.

In their tribute, his family said: An inspiration to us all and to those who knew him, RIP our amazing Mark, you will be forever loved, missed and remembered. Ride high hero, keep rubber side down.'

Mark Fincham, pictured earlier in his racing career. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant)