Two motorcycle racers have died after a crash involving 11 bikes during a British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.
Owen Jenner, 21, was treated trackside and taken to the circuit’s medical centre, but organisers said he died from a «catastrophic head injury».
Shane Richardson, 29, sustained severe chest injuries and was also given treatment at the scene.
He was transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital but died before he arrived.
A third rider, Tom Tunstall, 47, is at the same hospital with what organisers called «significant back and abdominal injuries».
Five others from the British Supersport race were taken to the track’s medical centre but didn’t need hospital treatment.
Motorsport Vision Racing, which runs the race series, said the crash happened on the first lap as riders exited turn one at Old Hall corner.
It said there was a «chain reaction» with 11 riders coming off their bikes.
«Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention, the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled,» organisers said in a statement.
Cheshire Police said they were investigating two deaths on behalf of the coroner.
«The Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing are investigating the full circumstances of the incident in conjunction with the Coroner and Cheshire Police,» the force said in a statement.
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The British Supersport Championship features 600cc machines and is the main support class to the blue riband professional British Superbikes series.
The Oulton Park event was the opening round of this year’s championship, which takes place at circuits around the UK.
Both riders had posted on social media in recent days about looking forward to this weekend’s races
Owen Jenner, from Crowborough, East Sussex, is a superstock champion in 2020 and 2023, and GP2 champion in 2024, winning the title with 18 wins out of 20 race finishes.
After, he signed with British superbike team Rapid Honda.
Shane Richardson, originally from New Zealand, is a father-of-two, who, according to his social media, works as a part-time test rider for Triumph.
According to his team, Astro JJR Hippo Suzuki, he previously had a business crafting bespoke kitchens before moving into «competing on the UK’s premier racing circuits».