Motorbike racer Morgan McLaren-Wood, who was injured in the crash which killed two fellow riders on Monday, says “there was nothing anyone could do” to prevent the tragedy.
England’s Owen Jenner, 21, and New Zealander Shane Richardson, 29, were fatally injured when 11 riders crashed during the British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.
Another rider, Tom Tunstall, suffered a broken bone in his neck while five riders, including McLaren-Wood, sustained minor injuries and three escaped unharmed.
“I was maybe a row behind Shane and Owen, maybe five or six bikes behind them – maybe a bit more,” McLaren-Wood, who suffered a sprained wrist and bruising around his back and knee, told BBC Sport.
“It was just chaos – there was nothing anyone could do. There were bikes everywhere. There was nowhere for anyone to go – it’s such a tight track and there’s not really any run-off on it either.”
Richardson and McLaren-Wood forged a relationship in their homeland of New Zealand before both moved to the UK.
McLaren-Wood said his compatriot helped him adjust to living in England and was always happy to offer advice about racing and life in general.
Richardson was a joiner since the age of 16 and ran a joinery business alongside his racing career. He and his partner Hannah James have two children, Maddie and Max.
“Shane was such a lovely guy. After every race he’d always have a chat back in the pits, he’d ask me how my race went, I’d ask about his and he’d give me advice on how to get better and where to improve,” McLaren-Wood said.
“He was such a loving dad. I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now, it’s so sudden and unexpected.”
McLaren-Wood said he did not know Jenner “as much as I would have liked”.
