Scotland has a long history of producing flawed sporting greats and double British Superbike champion Steve Hislop, who died 10 years ago next month, was as complex a character as any Frank McAvennie or Jim Baxter.

Hislop, who survived 20 years of risking his life in racing – recording 11 victories at the unforgiving TT on the Isle of Man, a track which has claimed, including the Manx GP, more than 240 lives – was ready to retire when he was killed after his helicopter crashed near Teviothead, Roxburghshire.

Now Hawick's Hislop, who left two young sons, will be remembered with a series of tributes at this weekend's MCE-British Superbike round at Knockhill. His fellow Scots, Niall Mackenzie, former team-mate and GP rider, and Stuart Easton, leading British Supersport 600cc contender, will lap the circuit on bikes from the Hislop era. There will be a display of Hislop's leathers, helmets, photos and other memorabilia and the Flying Haggis Trophy, inaugurated in 2004 by his mother Margaret, will be presented to the rider setting the fastest lap.

But Mar-Train Yamaha rider Easton, also from Hawick, says his friend and mentor would have been baffled by the fuss. Easton, speaking at an event at Motorpoint, Glasgow, said: "Steve would probably be a wee bit embarrassed but he's earned it. What he did in motorcycle racing was unbelievable. I'm sure if there was bike racing involved he'd enjoy it."

Easton, who sits second in the Supersport class with four wins – and one crash –from the first six races, was Hislop's team-mate in 2001 and 2002 when he won the Supersport championship , and Hislop picked up his second Superbike title.

"It was a bit of a fairytale year. In that couple of years I learned a lot from Steve, he took me under his wing and sent a lot of time with me so we'll give him a good tribute on Sunday. It's hard to believe it's 10 years since he died. It'll be nice to do a tribute to him at our home race. I'm doing a few parade laps. It'll maybe take my mind off the racing."

The Hawick connection is important to Easton. "There are maybe only 10,000 people live there but Steve won 11 TTs, Jimmy Guthrie won 6 TTs and there's a few British titles between us all."

Hislop's life was punctuated by tragedy as well as triumph. While Hislop was still a teenager, his father died of a heart attack in his arms and his younger brother Garry was killed racing motorcycles, which sent him into an alcohol-fuelled depression.

Niall Mackenzie's sons are both racing this weekend; Taylor, 20, in Supersport for Tyco Suzuki, and Tarran, 17, who is leading the 125cc class with Redline KTM/RS. Mackenzie Sr recalls his "fierce battles" with the uncompromising "Hizzy", who was known for his numerous bust ups with other riders. "I've got lots of good racing memories with Steve, being his team-mate in 1998 when I won the championship. After I stopped racing I used to enjoy watching him."

He's looking forward to taking part in the tribute. "It's a great way to remember him. I think he's got quite a few family coming."

Hislop, who was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, is frequently described as a flawed genius, and success in the world championships never materialised, possibly because of a self-destructive streak which led to a number of well-publicised clashes with other riders and team bosses.

Despite their often difficult relationship as team mates Mackenzie added: "Steve deserves to be remembered. He had a lot of good races at Knockhill."

There will be one Supersport race today but tomorrow is the main race day with Superbike, Supersport, 125ccs and Superstock races. www.britishsuperbike.com

www.knockhill.com