Two British Superbike Championship riders have suffered fatal injuries in a crash that has left their families and fans in shock. Owen Jenner, 21, and Shane Richardson, 29, died in the incident at Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire on May 5.
According to an investigation into the crash, Richardson over-accelerated about 300 meters from the start line of the British Supersport Championship race, throwing himself into the path of fellow riders that Jenner was unable to avoid. This reckless behavior led to a fatal collision with other competitors.
The coroner has concluded that the cause of death for both men was "unsurvivable injuries," and there is no evidence to suggest that any breach of safety procedures or inadequate track inspection contributed to the crash.
In his statement at the inquest, Motor Sport Vision Racing's Stuart Higgs said the first corner of the circuit, known as Old Hall corner, was not considered a high-risk area and had never seen fatalities before. He also stated that riders are well aware of the risks involved in motorsport.
However, this does little to console the families of the two young men who lost their lives in the tragedy. Jenner's parents, Michael and Emma Jenner, said they were excited for him as he started the race, but ultimately, his passion for racing cost him his life. Richardson's long-term partner, Hannah Wright, described him as having a very successful international career in motorsport and praised his exceptional racing skills.
While it is impossible to avoid all risks associated with high-speed sports like British Superbike Racing, the tragic deaths of Jenner and Richardson serve as a stark reminder of the dangers involved.
According to an investigation into the crash, Richardson over-accelerated about 300 meters from the start line of the British Supersport Championship race, throwing himself into the path of fellow riders that Jenner was unable to avoid. This reckless behavior led to a fatal collision with other competitors.
The coroner has concluded that the cause of death for both men was "unsurvivable injuries," and there is no evidence to suggest that any breach of safety procedures or inadequate track inspection contributed to the crash.
In his statement at the inquest, Motor Sport Vision Racing's Stuart Higgs said the first corner of the circuit, known as Old Hall corner, was not considered a high-risk area and had never seen fatalities before. He also stated that riders are well aware of the risks involved in motorsport.
However, this does little to console the families of the two young men who lost their lives in the tragedy. Jenner's parents, Michael and Emma Jenner, said they were excited for him as he started the race, but ultimately, his passion for racing cost him his life. Richardson's long-term partner, Hannah Wright, described him as having a very successful international career in motorsport and praised his exceptional racing skills.
While it is impossible to avoid all risks associated with high-speed sports like British Superbike Racing, the tragic deaths of Jenner and Richardson serve as a stark reminder of the dangers involved.
two young lives lost because of something stupid that happened on track i mean, owen was only 21 and shane was 29, they had their whole lives ahead of them and now they're just gone 
it's not like the track is super old or anything, stuart said in his statement that corners weren't a high risk area but still... 
accidents happen but this one feels especially avoidable to me. anyway, my heart goes out to their families and loved ones, totally senseless tragedy 
this is just so senseless.. two lives cut short over something we can't even control... i mean, i know they knew what they were getting into with motorsport, but it's still heartbreaking 
. we need to make sure these tracks are safer and that riders are protected 
. no one should ever have to lose someone like this 
Can't believe these young guys were so reckless on their bikes. Like, do you not know how fast those things go? 
Owen and Shane were basically begging to die on track. It's a miracle more people aren't getting hurt every time they get on that bike. The safety record at Oulton Park seems legit though - no shortcuts being taken, no corners dodged... just pure dumb luck 
just heard about this... can't believe two young riders lost their lives in such a tragic accident 
. hope the safety measures at Oulton Park get an overhaul after this 
you know the risks when you sign up for this stuff. It's not like they were blindfolded or anything! 
I'm all for safety measures and whatnot, but can't we just acknowledge that riders need to be more responsible on track?!
. That's just lazy reasoning if you ask me. If it's that bad of a corner, shouldn't they've put more emphasis on it?! 
can we please just make racing safer for the living? 
. It just doesn't add up.
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. It's not just about motorsport, it's about lives cut short by a sport that's supposed to be exhilarating, not deadly 
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. The investigation findings are clear, Owen and Shane were reckless in their actions, which led to this tragic outcome 
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The senseless loss of life in this racing accident is heartbreaking. It's a harsh reality that we can't escape, especially when it comes to high-speed sports. Riders know the risks, but accidents like this one are a stark reminder of just how unpredictable they can be. 
I cant even... 300 meters from the start line?! That's so reckless 
owen and shane were like super young too 21 and 29 which is crazy... i don't really get how someone can over-accelerate at like 300 meters from the start line tho? isn't that just asking for trouble? anyway it's not like they did anything wrong or something because the coroner said so but still it's hard to imagine what those families must be going through