Track day ride ends in tragedy

Tim Porter crashed into this wall. Photo / Jason Dorday

Safety fears at racetrack open days have been raised after the death of a motorcyclist who smashed into a concrete wall at as much as 200km/h.

Tim Porter, a corporal in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, died after losing control of his high-powered bike at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, 60km south of Auckland, on Friday.

Porter was just five minutes into his "ride day" event when his front wheel became airborne after coming over a rise on the final corner of the track.

Witnesses said Porter's handlebars began shaking and he was thrown off his bike and into a concrete wall while his bike careered 100m down the track.

Paramedics were on the scene within moments but Porter was dead.

A black mark was visible yesterday at the spot where Porter crashed into the wall. Flowers had been left nearby.

The police serious crash unit and Waikato coroner are investigating, while the Department of Labour is making "initial inquiries".

Porter, who lived on the Air Force base at Whenuapai, was described by friends as an experienced rider.

He had bought the 2006 Honda CBR 600RR he was riding only a few weeks ago.

Motorcycling experts have called for padded "air fences" that usually cover track walls during MotoGP races to be installed for open days.

Brian Bernard of Motorcycling NZ's road race commission said: "Anyone can turn up with a bike and a helmet and let loose on the track. They pay their money and they get to ride.

"There are guys who have only just got their licence who for ego reasons go a lot faster than what they can manage."

A member of the online forum Kiwibiker blamed design flaws at the track for the death.

"I hope this will trigger Hampton to rectify the situation with either airbags on that wall or track modification to prevent anyone else from losing their life over such a ridiculous design fault," they said.

Event organiser Darren Sweetman refused to say why there were no air fences in place.

"If the law says someone can ride a motorbike in New Zealand they can ride their bike at our events. I won't divulge how experienced a particular rider is," Sweetman said.

"Our events are probably the safest in the country. We ensure everybody is licensed, we check all the vehicles, we monitor everyone on the circuit."

Hampton Downs chief executive Jamie Kett said the track was safe.

"It was a tragic accident and these things unfortunately do happen."

Motorcycling NZ president Jim Tuckerman said racing on a track was safer than speeding on open roads.

He added: "Riding a motorcycle is a risky business, full stop. The rider should ride to the conditions and their skill level, basically."

Amateur riders returned to the track yesterday for a motorcycle open day, with former world superbike star Aaron Slight on hand to give safety advice.

Motorbike enthusiast Tom Coulter, 30, from Ellerslie, said: "It was on my mind the whole time especially coming around that turn. It's shocking."

Porter had written about how he liked to push bikes to the limit. In a post dated October 18 he wrote: "Sunday was an exhilarating, nerve-wracking, humbling, eye-opening experience.

"I made quite a few mistakes that day."