ROAD RACING LOSES ONE OF ITS BRIGHTEST STARS
James Cowton dies and Ivan Lintin critically injured in four-bike Southern 100 crash
In what was already a tragic week for road racing following William Dunlop’s death at the Skerries 100, the sport was dealt another hammer blow when James Cowton was killed at last week’s Southern 100.
The 26-year-old was involved in a four-rider pile-up at the Manx event on Thursday afternoon. “We regret to announce that, following an incident involving four competitors at Stadium Bends during the 600cc Challenge race, Driffield rider James Cowton succumbed to his injuries,” organisers said in an official statement.
Ivan Lintin was also critically injured in the crash and was air lifted to Liverpool hospital. Jamie Coward and Mikey Evans also sustained injuries in the smash. An investigation is being currently carried out into the horrific incident but eyewitnesses have said that a rider collided with safety fencing which was then dragged into the road in front of the following riders. Yorkshireman Cowton had been enjoying a superb 2018 season since joining the McAdoo Kawasaki squad. He had taken victory in the Supersport event at the Cookstown 100 and had beaten Jeremy McWilliams to win the Supertwins race at the North West 200. One of the sport’s ‘Young Guns’, Cowton had already tasted TT success at the age of 22 when he finished third in the 2014 Lightweight TT.
‘Cowton was one of the sport’s Young Guns’
Lintin, who rides for the Dafabet/ Devitt’s Kawasaki squad, had earlier in the day finished second in the Southern 100 Championship feature race behind winner Dean Harrison. The winner of the 2015 and 2016 Lightweight TTs, the Lincolnshire rider is a also parttime fire fighter in his home town of Bardney.
Steve Mercer, badly injured when he collided with a course car during this year’s TT practice, was moved to make his first social media communication since his own crash by news of Lintin’s battle for life. “I’m absolutely devastated to keep hearing such sad news,” the Maidstone man said in a moving Facebook post from his hospital bed. “Ivan you can do this. Keep fighting. You can get through. I’m lying here smashed to bits but I refused to give up and you’re not gonna give up either. We’re bike racers and bike racers fight.” The latest update from Lintin’s team described the 33-year-old as ‘critical but stable’ following an operation on his injured leg and ankle. “There are positive signs,” the announcement said. Jamie Coward also tweeted afterwards that he felt ‘extremely lucky’ after sustaining ‘broken fingers and an extremely sore back’ in the Southern 100 crash. Mikey Evans, meanwhile, has incurred leg and arm injuries. Both riders have now left hospital.