British SuperbikesTwo riders suffered “unsurvivable accidents” throughout a British Superbike Championship occasion, their inquests have heard.
Owen Jenner, 21, and Shane Richardson, 29, died in a crash on the first nook of the Oulton Park circuit in Tarporley, Cheshire, on 5 Could.
Richardson over-accelerated about 300m from the beginning line within the British Supersport Championship race and was thrown into the trail of fellow riders, who Jenner was unable to keep away from.
A coroner recorded a conclusion of unintended dying and mentioned the proof prompt the race organisers had adopted “all required process”.
Jenner died on the scene from head accidents whereas Richardson died from chest accidents about two hours after the crash, whereas en path to Royal Stoke College Hospital.
The inquests, at Cheshire Coroner’s Courtroom in Warrington, heard autopsy examinations revealed their accidents have been “unsurvivable”.
Race director Stuart Higgs, of organisers Motor Sport Imaginative and prescient Racing, mentioned the primary nook, often known as Previous Corridor nook, was not thought of to be an space of excessive danger and had no earlier fatalities.
Some 37 rivals lined up for the primary race of the 2025 season on the Financial institution Vacation weekend, the inquest heard.
Requested by senior coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, whether or not the game concerned an inherent danger of dying, Higgs replied: “Sadly it does.
“The riders signal a really chilly declaration that they perceive they might danger harm or dying.”
PC Andrew Balmforth, a forensic collision investigator for Cheshire Police, mentioned he was happy there have been no points with the race monitor and that licence and inspection necessities had been obtained beforehand.
He mentioned each males have been hit by their fellow rivals however there was nothing the opposite riders may have accomplished.
‘Nice spirits’
Jenner, of Crowborough, East Sussex, had been using bikes from the age of six and was thought of a “rising star” after he gained three British championship titles throughout completely different courses.
His mother and father, Michael and Emma Jenner, had travelled to Cheshire for the weekend and Michael Jenner mentioned his son had been “excited” to begin the race.
Hannah Wright, long-term accomplice of New Zealander Richardson, mentioned he had ridden bikes competitively from the age of 4 and had a “very profitable” worldwide profession, throughout which he had gained “distinctive racing expertise”.
She mentioned: “Previous to the race we had amusing and a banter within the storage along with his group. Everyone was in nice spirits that day.
“We even spoke about how we had such a great feeling for the season that yr.”
Devonish mentioned: “On the energy of the proof we have now heard I’m happy these governing the race at Oulton Park that race weekend adopted all required process, insofar as they’d undertaken the annual inspections appropriately and so they had required licences from their riders.”
