06-05-2025
Commentator says fatal British Superbike crash at Oulton Park is 'one of the worst ever seen'
Commentator Greg Haines has been paying tribute to the riders killed in an 11-bike crash at Oulton Park.
A motorcycle race commentator has described an "catastrophic" superbike crash which saw two young riders killed as "one of the worst he has ever seen in his career."
The "chain-reaction incident" at the first corner of the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship at Oulton Park, Cheshire, happened on Monday, 5 May.
British rider Owen Jenner, 21, and New Zealand's Shane Richardson, 29, were both treated trackside for serious injuries but later died, organisers MotorSport Vision Racing said.
A third rider, British man Tom Tunstall, 47, sustained 'significant injuries' and was transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital where he remains.
Another five riders were treated in the medical centre with minor injuries.
Paying tribute to Owen Jenner, super bike commentator Greg Haines, who is based in Barcelona, said he was "a real character" who was a "joker in the paddock but took the sport very seriously."
He went on to say the crash, involving 11 riders, was "one of the worst crashes I've seen and many of my colleagues I've been speaking to overnight."
"It is unusual. In many ways it is amazing it doesn't happen more often - thank god it doesn't. But the start of the race is always the most dangerous time because everybody is bunched together from a standing start as well.
"It is the risk the riders take and they know it can happen. But to have two riders losing their lives is absolutely appalling and to have serveral other riders injured - I wish them all the best."
In a statement, British Superbike Championship said: "At the start of this afternoon's Quattro Group British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park, exiting turn one, Old Hall corner on the first lap, there was a chain reaction incident involving 11 riders falling.
"The race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed. Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention, the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled.
"This catastrophic accident has tragically resulted in two riders being fatally injured, and another sustaining significant injuries."
Cheshire Police are investigating the deaths of Owen Jenner and Shane Richardson.
