KEY POINTS:
A mechanical fault may have contributed to a crash in which two motorcyclists were killed at Pukekohe Raceway this morning, police say.
The two riders collided at speed while racing on the back straight of the track about 11am and were killed instantly.
Police spokeswoman Darragh O'Riordan said early estimates were that one of the motorcyclists was travelling about 260km/h at the time.
"It seems that the crash happened when one of the racers struck the other from behind," she said.
"We believe that the bike in front was slowing and may have had a mechanical failure, but we don't know for sure at this stage."
Emergency services were on the scene immediately but could do nothing for the victims of the crash.
The motorcyclists were competing at a meeting organised by the Auckland Motorcycling Club which included the fifth round of the New Zealand Superbike Road Race Championship.
Counties Manukau Police will be investigating the deaths on behalf of the Coroner.
No further details have yet been released.
- NZPA with NZHERALD STAFF
