Health update on third British Superbikes rider after pair died in tragic Oulton Park crash

British Superbike Championship organisers have issued an update on the condition of Tom Tunstall following the death of Shane Richardson and Owen Jenner at Oulton Park

A motorcycle racer who was involved in a crash that killed two fellow riders suffered a broken neck but is in a stable condition.

Shane Richardson, 29, and Owen Jenner, 21, died after 11 riders fell at the first corner at Oulton Park race track in Cheshire on Monday. The devastating incident occurred in a British Supersport race, a support class to the main British Superbike Championship, which holds events around the UK, including at Knockhill in Fife.

In an update on Tuesday, it was confirmed that a third rider, Tom Tunstall, 47, was in a serious but stable condition in hospital after the incident. Doctors will decide if the Yorkshire rider needs surgery on the broken bone in the coming days, but “a slow but hopefully full recovery is expected”, the organisers said.

A statement from MotorSport Vision Racing, which runs the British Superbikes series, said: "We can confirm that Tom Tunstall has sustained a broken bone in his neck and is currently under the care of a team of specialists at the Royal Stoke Hospital.

"While his condition is serious, he is stable and receiving the best possible treatment. Doctors are closely monitoring his progress and will determine in the coming days whether surgery will be necessary. At this time, a slow but hopefully full recovery is expected."

Jenner, from East Sussex, was taken to the circuit medical centre and given further resuscitation treatment but died from a “catastrophic head injury”, organisers said.

Richardson, who friends said has a young family and who described himself online as “just a joiner from New Zealand chasing my dreams and racing”, was taken to the medical centre with “severe chest injuries” but died while he was being transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital, they added.

Former ‘grid girl’ Hannah James, who was Richardson’s partner, had also suffered the death of a previous partner in the sport, Billy Redmayne, 24, who was killed in a crash at the Oliver’s Mount Spring Cup in North Yorkshire in 2016.

James, a social worker and former promotional model, updated her Facebook profile photo on Tuesday, showing a photo of Richardson and their two young children.

Five other riders were treated in the medical centre with minor injuries, but did not need hospital treatment. Cheshire Constabulary said officers are investigating the crash along with the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing.