Mr Downey, a Wollongong-based freelance photographer with a passion for capturing sports, most notably motocross and surfing, died in August from melanoma. He was 53.

Wollongong Motorcycle Club acknowledged Mr Downey by taking his ashes on a lap of honour around the track, before spreading his remains across the start line prior to the main race.

"He's going out the way he would love to go out," his mother Ann said.

Club life member David Sirc, a childhood friend of Mr Downey, said "this would be a dream of his to be sent out in this way".

"He'd very pleased in what we're doing for him," he said.

Wollongong Surf Club previously spread the other half of his ashes on the shore at Oiley's, Wollongong.

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Sunday's events took place during the motorcycle club's annual 2-Stroke Cup.

Mrs Downey said her son was born with a heart condition, and loved motocross.

"He raced when he was little, but the heart got too much for him and he couldn't race, so he decided to take photos.

"He loved the speed and thrill of jumping, the thrill of it all. He was a good friend of Robbie Maddison, and helped build Robbie's pits down in Kiama."

She said he was "a really kind son to me".

"We've got two motorbikes on the floor in parts.

"Noel was going to get better and was going to put them together. He bought all of these new parts to go on them, but he didn't make it."

Mr Sirc said Mr Downey was "very involved" in their inaugural cup in 2016.

"Noel spread his love around to a lot of different sporting events," he said.

"Motocross, surfing, people taking golf shots... He travelled the world a little photographing events."

Mr Sirc said his friend had been an innovator with regard to developing modes of aerial photography, which he used to capture sports and Illawarra landmarks.

This included a quadcopter UAV, or remote-controlled, camera-mounted aerial platform.

"Before they even had drones, Noel designed a quadcopter that he used to take photos and videos of surfing events and things around the Illawarra," Mr Sirc said.

"He was one of the pioneers in helping start the fad of drones and those types of things."

Mrs Downey said her son had left behind hundreds of discs and several hard drives, containing photos of local motocross riders, surfing events and more.

She planned to hand the motocross ones over to the club.