TT 2016: Veteran Paul Shoesmith dies during Saturday practice

Isle of Man TT racer Paul Shoesmith has died following an incident at Sulby during tonight’s practice lap of the Mountain Circuit. 

The Poynton man was a veteran of the TT, competing since 2005 and recording a best ever finish of seventh in the 2009 Lightweight race among over fifty TT finishes since his debut. Paul won 40 bronze replicas during his TT career, adding another one to the collection this morning.

He was also a well-known figure in the paddock through his role as the boss of the Ice Valley Racing BMW squad. Always running immaculately designed and painted machines, the team gave many of the top names in the sport their first successes, including fastest ever newcomers Simon Andrews and Peter Hickman.

Always the life and soul of the party, Shoey was a regular fixture in the road racing paddock both on the Isle of Man and elsewhere, and a consistently strong finisher at the TT, recording his fastest ever lap of the course en route to 29^th place in the Superbike TT earlier today.

Paul was the second casualty of the opening day of racing at the TT, after the death of Dwight Beare in the Sidecar TT earlier today.

MCN joins the wider racing community in sending our deepest condolences to Paul’s partner Janet, family, friends and fans. Rest in peace.