Police seek witnesses after man dies at motocross event

A 54-YEAR-OLD man has died while taking part in a motocross event in Dorset, police have said.

Officers were called to Higher Ashton Farm at Martinstown, near Dorchester, at 10.43am on Saturday, where the rider, who has not been named, was found unresponsive before he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed offroad circuits, and evolved from motorcycle trials competitions.

A Dorset Police spokesman said that the death was not being treated as suspicious but officers were investigating the circumstances and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

The event had 60 competitors and was said by police not to have been a race.

He said: “Following the tragic death of a man at a motocross event near Dorchester, officers are appealing for anyone with footage to come forward.

“At 10.43am on Saturday, Dorset Police received a report of an incident at Higher Ashton Farm off the B3159 Goulds Hill, Martinstown.

“Officers and the ambulance service attended but sadly, the 54-year-old man from Axminster was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin has been informed and the coroner was notified. The incident is not currently being treated as suspicious, but officers are looking into the circumstances.”

Police Sergeant Chris Brolan, of the force’s roads policing team, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who tragically died.

“We are trying to establish what exactly happened. The event took place on farmland and was not a race.

‘We are hoping that someone may have recorded footage that could assist us’

“It is believed that over 60 people took part and we are hoping that someone may have recorded footage that could assist us with our investigation.

“I would urge anyone who used a helmet camera or any other device to please check if they have caught anything of relevance.”

Last year, photographer Simon Mitchell was killed by a runaway bike at the British Motocross Championships in Swindon.

Mr Mitchell, who was in his 50s, was hit after a rider came off his bike during a jump.