Rider missed chequered flag before crash - inquest

Alan Connor died during a Southern 100 qualifying session on 11 July

A motorcycle rider who died in a crash in which a marshal was also killed during the Isle of Man’s Southern 100 road races missed a chequered flag, an inquest has heard.

Alan Connor died after colliding with fellow competitor Andrew Smart, who was slowing down at the end of a qualifying session, on the Bypass Road in Castletown on 11 July 2023.

Douglas Courthouse heard the 50-year-old, from County Meath in Ireland, had not reduced his speed and collided with Mr Smart's machine as it moved left to pull into pit lane.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, coroner James Brooks said while he was satisfied the flag had been displayed properly, he was also satisfied Mr Connor had missed it.

Changes

Clerk of the course Giles Olley told the hearing flags were the only way organisers could communicate with riders on the track, and changes to the flagging system on the Billown Circuit had already been implemented.

They included the introduction of a three-minute countdown to the end of each session, the positioning of the marshal holding the chequered flag on a raised plinth, and a digital flag being placed above it.

The inquest heard Mr Connor, who was an experienced rider and had raced at the Southern 100 before, died of multiple injuries as a result of blunt force trauma.

Inspections of the machines involved had shown there were no faults with either that would have led to the collision, and the weather conditions had not contributed to it.

Mr Brooks said while he acknowledged the changes that had been made, it was "vital" that everything was done to ensure the flags were seen and he would be writing a report in relation to the flagging system.

Closing the inquest, he passed on his condolences to Mr Connor's family.

The inquest into the death of volunteer marshal Liam Clarke, who had been visiting the island for the event, is set to resume on Wednesday.