The North's Sports Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey, has extended his sympathy to the families of two motorcycle racers killed in Sunday's Monaghan road race.
Mr Gary Dynes (35) and Mr Andrew McClean (24) died of injuries sustained when Mr McClean's bike went off the road taking four other riders with him, among them Mr Dynes.
Mr McGimpsey said he was "shocked and saddened" by the tragedy, which comes only weeks after the North's most famous racer, Mr Joey Dunlop, died in a crash in Estonia.
"This is another tragic blow for the sport of motorcycle racing. It follows the very recent untimely death of Joey Dunlop which brought home to us all that danger and possible tragedy is never far away in what is one of the most spectacular and exciting of sports," the Minister said.
He added that his thoughts and prayers were with the Dynes and McClean families "at this very difficult time".
In the past 12 months, seven riders from Northern Ireland have died in road races, raising questions about the future of the sport. Mr Bill Kennedy, the mayor of Ballymoney, Co Antrim, Mr Dunlop's home town, yesterday called for motorcycle fans to boycott this weekend's Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod, Co Antrim, to protest at the worsening of safety conditions.
Mr Kennedy, a motor-racing fan, said he made his call "with sadness" but that it was not acceptable for young riders to risk their lives on unsafe courses.