Safety rules were followed, reports Killarney after fatal motorcycle crash
Gavin Ramsay’s tragic death is being investigated by Motorsport SA
THE KILLARNEY circuit has defended its actions during the motorcycle crash which claimed the life of former South African champion Gavin Ramsay on Saturday, saying safety rules were followed.
“The proper double yellow warning flags for ‘extreme danger’ were used to warn motorcyle riders before the crash,” says Des Easom, executive manager at Killarney International Raceway.
“Speculation and accusations about the handling of the race are therefore premature as the joint investigation by Killarney and Motorsport SA, SA’s controlling body, is continuing,”
Ramsay (53), an experienced rider from Springs and a multiple SA motorcycle champion, died from injuries sustained in a fall at the end of the main straight. The motorcycle race was cancelled.
Easom’s statement follows an appeal by Ramsay’s family: “We hereby plead with everyone to desist from the finger-pointing, speculation and laying the blame and to please remove such material from the various forums and social media platforms. In the spirit of who Gavin was he would not have wanted it this way.”
Easom said: “We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends. A fatality in a race is always tragic, despite constant efforts and measures to make racing cars and motorcycles as well as the running of races safer.
“The investigation started directly after the incident and continues. Criticism about the quality of marshalling, no red flags to stop the race, oil on the track and a picture and videos showing only a small section of track are therefore, and at this stage, allegations”.
During Saturday’s international SA TT Historic Motorcycle race, Gary Hunter on a Honda went down under braking for turn one, whether on his own oil or on oil that had been dropped on the circuit by another competitor is unclear. Hunter scrambled to his feet unhurt as the yellow flags came out, but before the marshals could begin moving the Honda from where it was lying at the entrance to the escape road, Ramsay crashed on the same oil.
His Suzuki tumbled past Hunter’s fallen machine but Ramsay slid into the wrecked Honda at high speed, sustaining fatal injuries.
“Double yellow flags indicating an extremely dangerous situation for riders to prepare to stop were immediately waved at the marshal post ahead of the braking zone some 200 metres before the corner to warn oncoming riders,” says Easom.
“The marshal post is not visible from the angle that one of the videos is recorded.
“Some 25 seconds after the first bike came to rest, the race leader and next three motorcycles passed the marshal post and reacted to the waved double yellow flag and passed the obstruction safely. Gavin was in fourth position and after passing the double yellow flags he unfortunately lost control under braking and fell.
“Every injury or fatality is sad,” added Easom. “Racing today, however, is infinitely safer than in earlier years.”
Despite technological advances in racing machines and safety equipment, racing remains dangerous and accidents sadly do happen, he said. Wainer, which finished ahead of Chris Clarke in a Formula Ford Titan. However, Alex Baillie (F1 Cooper) and Andrew Waring, whose extremely rare 1964 BRM V8 had a magnificent exhaust note, finished third and sixth and justified the title to an extent.
Smeeton went on to win the second race as well, with Baillie moving the Cooper up to second. Stuart Grant snatched third in his Formula Ford Lotus.
The first All-comers event proved a triumph for local driver Craig Harper in his turbocharged Harper Type 5. He was followed by veteran Cyril Ginsburg (Porsche).