First Oulton Park crash survivor breaks silence following horror 11-bike accident that saw 2 drivers killed
Shane Richardson and Owen Jenner were killed in a horror crash at Oulton Park in Cheshire on Sunday with five other riders involved in the incident, but escaped with minor injuries
A survivor of the horror Oulton Park crash that claimed the lives of two riders has broken his silence.
Morgan McLaren-Wood emerged with only minor injuries and expressed his deep sorrow, stating on social media that he was "struggling to find the words" following the tragedy that took the lives of fellow New Zealander Shane Richardson and Englishman Owen Jenner during a British Supersport Championship event.
The horrific crash happened on the first bend of the race at Oulton Park, where 11 bikes were caught up in the mayhem.
Richardson suffered critical chest injuries and passed away whilst being moved to Royal Stoke University Hospital after receiving treatment on the track and at the circuit medical centre. He is survived by two young children.
Rapid Honda's Owen Jenner succumbed to a terrible head injury sustained in the crash, dying at the circuit's medical facility. Alongside McLaren-Wood, another four riders – Carl Harris, Max Morgan, Cameron Hall, and Freddie Barnes – were also caught up in the incident but fortunately suffered only minor injuries.
Three other competitors – Lewis Jones, Corey Tinker, and George Edwards – walked away unhurt from the carnage.
Following the incident, McLaren-Wood reached out through social platforms: "Struggling to find the words for what happened today. Rest in peace, Shane and Owen. My heart goes out to both of their families during this heartbreaking time."
President of Motorcycling New Zealand, Michael McLeod, remarked on the profound impact that Richardson's death has had on the motorcycle racing community, highlighting the significant role the 29 year old played in supporting up-and-coming riders within the sport.
He told the Herald: "It's a tragic shock to the motorcycle racing community in New Zealand because he's such a well-respected competitor and mentor to a lot of young up-and-coming riders that are now competing in Europe and England as well. He was a fantastic guy, he'd always stop and have a chat. He's a real nice bloke and it's a real shame."
The race organiser has confirmed that the rest of the event has been cancelled while they begin an investigation into the fatal incident.
A statement from the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing said: "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. The Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing are investigating the full circumstances of the incident in conjunction with the coroner and Cheshire Constabulary."
The Supersport Championship is a feeder series for the main Superbikes event. Last year, New Zealander Richardson finished eighth in the standings with 146 points, and this season marked Jenner's second year in the championship.
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