Rider Dies in Manx Grand Prix Qualifying Crash on Isle of Man
A competitor has died following a two-rider crash during qualifying for the Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man.
The incident occurred at Cruickshanks, in Ramsey, on the opening lap of Tuesday evening's qualifying session. Organisers red-flagged the session at approximately 18:50 BST. The riders involved have not been named BBC News.
In a statement, the Manx Grand Prix Races confirmed that one competitor sustained fatal injuries and that a multi-agency investigative process was underway. The other rider involved suffered minor injuries and was being treated at Noble's Hospital, the island's main hospital BBC News.
The road between Ramsey Bus Station and Lheaney Road in Ramsey remained closed for more than three hours after the crash.
Tuesday marked the second day of qualifying for the 2026 Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT, the annual motorcycle racing festival held on the Isle of Man. Monday's sessions had been cancelled due to rain, and Sunday's opening session was cut short after a separate red-flag incident that saw Italian rider Salvatore Sallustro taken to hospital, followed by a deterioration in the weather BBC News.
The Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT are held on the Mountain Course, a 37.7-mile (61km) closed public-road circuit that loops through the island's towns and open moorland. It is the same course used for the Isle of Man TT races, run each spring. Qualifying was scheduled to take place daily until Saturday, with racing set to continue until 28 August.
The Mountain Course is widely regarded as the most demanding circuit in motorcycle road racing. Riders navigate narrow roads, stone walls, hedgerows and jumps at speeds exceeding 200mph on the fastest sections. The circuit has claimed lives throughout its long history, and Tuesday's fatality follows other recent tragedies: 33-year-old Daniel Ingham died in a crash during qualifying for the Isle of Man TT in May BBC News, and 43-year-old Louis O'Regan lost his life during Manx Grand Prix qualifying in August 2024 Visordown.
Qualifying sessions allow riders to complete laps at speed to set grid positions and meet licence requirements. The Manx Grand Prix, distinct from the TT, is traditionally seen as a stepping stone for riders progressing toward the senior event, though both share the same unforgiving circuit.
