Motorcyclist killed in Gladstone crash

The death of a motorcyclist during yesterday's annual Cliffhanger Hillclimb near Gladstone is the first fatality in more than a decade of competition, race organisers say.

Wairarapa traffic policing manager Sergeant Chris Megaw said the rider was killed after he lost control of his bike at high speed and crashed into a roadside fence on Te Wharau Rd near Gladstone just after 1pm.

Police had not released the name of the dead man last night. He is understood to be from Wellington and a middle-aged father of adult children.

Peter Thompson, race organising committee chairman, said the victim lost control of his high-performance Ducati 999 motorcycle on a corner about two-thirds of the way up the 6km course that rises 300m and comprises 27 corners.

Mr Thompson said the man was an experienced rider and had raced in Victoria Motorcycle Club events in Wellington.

He was on his fourth run of the day when he lost control of the bike.

"After three runs you do get tired but he seemed happy with his times and was a mature competitor," Mr Thompson said.

It was the first fatality in the history of the annual event, although some riders had received serious injuries in crashes in past years.

"The road was closed and we stopped racing immediately after the crash and our condolences go out to the family of the rider," Mr Thompson said.

He said lone racers contested the time trial events and "can go as fast or slow as they please - they're in charge of the throttle and there's no one pushing from behind".