A biker killed in a crash near his Argyll home was a talented mechanic who was “very well liked” in his village.
John Johnston died after his powerful sports motorcycle went out of control and hit trees on the A85 Oban-Perth road.
The 34-year-old had been heading towards Loch Awe on his silver Honda Fireblade when the accident happened.
He died at the scene of the crash, two miles east of his home at Taynuilt.
Mr Johnston’s father, also John, and mother Yvonne, also live in the village. He is also survived by two sisters, Eilidh and Janine.
Last night, childhood friend Robert Wilson, 35, who is a keen motorcycle road racer and former motocross competitor, paid tribute to Mr Johnston.
He said: “John and I were best of friends for many years. We grew up together but drifted apart as we got older.
“I know some of his previous employers spoke very highly of him and said he was a very talented mechanic.
“He managed to turn his hand to anything and always managed to get things fixed and he was a very good motocross rider as well in his younger days.
“He was a nice person and he was very well liked in the village.
“Everybody is devastated with what has happened to the poor boy.”
Another local said: “He was a nice guy, a delightful young man.
“He will be sadly missed around the village.
“It is terribly sad for the parents. It must be so terrible to lose a young one.”
Mr Johnson worked for Morrisons Motor Repairs at Barcaldine.
Police are appealing to motorists who were on the A85 around the time of the accident and may have seen the Honda Fireblade bike before 11.30am on Wednesday to contact them.
Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that a couple died when their motorcycle was involved in a collision with a car only hours later on the same road, 30 miles to the east.
James Whiteside, 59, from Greenock, and Jacqueline Hennessey, 54, from Tullibody, died when their Yamaha bike and Volkswagen Golf crashed around 4.20pm on Wednesday.
The accident happened near Crianlarich. The driver of the Golf was uninjured.
Police have urged anyone with information on either accident to contact them on 101.