Road racer's crash death accidental, inquest finds
· Yahoo Sports
The death of a Manx Grand Prix rider who crashed after he lost control of his bike due to water seepage on the road during a qualifying session was an accident, a coroner has ruled.
Louis O'Regan, 43, from Waterford in Ireland, crashed during the opening session of the event at about 16:50 BST on 18 August 2024 in the area of Kate's Cottage.
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The inquest had heard that rider Jamie Williams had lost control in the same spot and suffered a significant crash just two hours earlier.
Evidence from marshals based on that stretch of road, stated that there had been an unusual number of riders "wobbling on their bikes" that day.
Coroner Rebecca Cubbon found the crash was not caused by any mechanical defects or rider error.
Instead, she said that as the 43-year-old crossed the double white line in the road there was a lack of grip caused by water seepage, which resulted in him losing control and crashing into the hedgerow.
O'Regan, an electrical engineer based in Oxfordshire, was pronounced dead at about 17:05. A post mortem examination found he would have died of multiple injuries "pretty quickly after impact".
The coroner said that while there had been concerns amongst marshals about a water patch on the margin of the racing line, and that it had been discussed, it was "unclear how far up the chain" that information was relayed.
The inquest had previously heard that water patch was believed to be contaminated with peat, which meant that it was "very slippery underfoot".
The inquest had heard that O'Regan's bike was found in second gear, which was unusual for the area as riders tended to travel at between 120mph and 130mph (193km/h to 209km/h) in third or fourth gear.
However, the coroner said she considered that "loss of control was at the point of the wet patch" and it was "more likely than not that to assist himself he changed to second gear".
She also found that a lack-of-adhesion flag had likely had been put up at Keppel Gate following Williams' crash to warn riders.
Ruling that O'Regan's death was accidental, she said that although taking part in the Manx Grand Prix was an inherently risky act, losing control over a water patch was an "unintended consequence".
She said she would now consider whether to make any recommendations in relation to the incident.
'Experienced rider'
In a statement, race organisers the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) said: "Our thoughts remain with Louis's family, friends, team, and all those closest to him. Every loss on the Mountain Course is deeply felt.
It said the course was "a unique and demanding environment, and road racing carries an inherent degree of risk", which needed to be met with "responsibility, thorough preparation, and the careful management of all risks".
"We remain committed to a robust safety framework and to continually strengthening our risk management systems, procedures and operational practices that support the safe delivery of all events that take place on the Mountain Course," it added.
The Department of Infrastructure has declined to comment at this time.
In a statement, O'Regan's family said he was "an experienced rider who loved Isle of Man road racing and fully respected the course".
"Louis left his Oxfordshire home in August, telling his family that he knew his limitations and would be back. Tragically he did not return," they said.
"Since losing Louis on 18 August 2024, there have been so many questions, at least some of these have been answered."
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