TT inquest: coroner gives verdict of misadventure

The Coroner of Inquests on the Isle of Man has delivered a damning verdict at the end of an inquiry into the deaths of two spectators and one competitor on the final day of the TT races last summer.

Michael Moyles ruled that the area around the 26th milestone had not been properly marshalled, and was critical of confusion regarding whether signs barring spectators from an embankment had been erected properly.

Race spectators Dean Jacob and Gregory Kenzig were killed when the motorcycle of Marc Ramsbotham careered up an embankment after the rider suffered a fatal crash on the mountain section.

The coroner is unable to ban race officials, but recommended that all parties involved in the planning and marshalling of the TT course should consider their positions. He also lambasted the island’s Department of Transport, stating that it had made a laughing stock of itself.

In a press statement, Adrian Earnshaw, head of the TT organising committee, said a number of changes to the way the races are organised have already been implemented.

“The newly appointed race organiser ACU Events has carried out a comprehensive analysis of the TT course which has resulted in further definition of restricted and prohibited area,” he said.

ACU plans to post laminated maps at restricted zones, and distribute maps of approved spectating areas online. Other actions in the pipeline include clearly allocating responsibility for the marking, signing, and checking of prohibited zones to the company contracted to set up the TT course.

Marshals would be more rigorously trained, and the emergency-services’ Tetra radio network would be made available to enable better communication between marshals.

“We acknowledge the recommendations of HM Coroner Mr M Moyle, and they will be reviewed in the near future,” Earnshaw said.