Bike racer died after tyre exploded, inquest is told
AVETERAN motorbike racer died from when a tyre exploded during a 190mph TT race, an inquest has heard.
Paul Shoesmith, from Poynton, was instantly killed in the tragedy during the Isle of Man TT races last June.
An inquest at Douglas Courthouse on the island, heard the 50-year-old was a hugely experienced and respected racer who ran the sport’s Four Anjels race team.
On the afternoon of Saturday, June 4, the dad-offour was celebrating after recording his fastest lap time at the TT that morning. Coroner John Needham heard how Mr Shoesmith had lapped the 37-mile course at an average speed of almost 126mph.
However, at around 6.30pm he crashed on a different motorbike.
Spectator Paul Homer told the hearing he’d been filming the races – which take place on closed public roads. He described how Mr Shoesmith was travelling at his bike’s top speed when the front wheel lifted a foot into the air. When the wheel touched the road again the tyre exploded, throwing Mr Shoesmith over the handlebars. He slid along the road before hitting a kerb.
Race Marshal Thomas Bevans told how he reached the scene within seconds the crash and a medical helicopter landed just ten minutes later but paramedics were unable to save him. He said Mr Shoesmith had appeared to hit a slight depression in the road while travelling between 160 and 190mph.
Consultant pathologist Dr Irvine Long gave the cause of death as multiple injuries as a result of a motorcycle accident.
A vehicle examiner at the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure, Anthony Bode, said the front tyre had suffered a “catastrophic failure” but could find no other faults on the bike.
Mr Needham recorded a verdict of misadventure, saying: “I am satisfied there was nothing on the road which punctured the tyre and caused it to deflate. It is not for this court to speculate as to reasons for the tyre’s failure. I find the tyre failure was entirely unforeseen.
“The activity of competing in the Isle of Man TT races is inherently dangerous.
“I know it is little comfort to those left behind, but Paul was clearly pur- suing his dream of racing and he died instantly, and so would not have suffered.”
Tributes were paid to Mr Shoesmith following his death from across the sporting world.
Following his death, dozens of fans and friends paid tribute to the veteran racer by escorting his funeral cortege back in June last year.