Coroner calls for report into motocross safety

An inquest into the death of a 23-year-old man at a South Auckland motocross track was adjourned yesterday, pending a report into safety improvements at the facility.

David Lindsay Begg of Whitford died at the scene after his 450cc Suzuki motorbike collided with a tractor at Moto Extreme Yamaha Raceway, Ardmore, last September.

The tractor was harrowing the track at the time of the crash.

Mr Begg and friends had gone to the track on the afternoon of September 14, but could not get in.

Auckland Motocross Association president John Cobb then arrived, and decided to "power harrow" the circuit, yesterday's hearing was told.

Mr Begg would have had only 1.5 seconds to react after he came over a rise into the path of the tractor, the court heard.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Begg, a rider of eight years' experience, died of head injuries.

The accident happened in good weather on a track that was "thick and sticky" in places, and no mechanical faults that could have caused the crash were found in either vehicle.

Coroner Sarn Herdson said she would reserve her official ruling until a report into safety standards at the track was obtained, then passed to family and others for consideration. A final ruling is expected about September.