ACU Events Ltd, the organisers for the Isle of Man TT Races, have confirmed an investigation process is underway to determine the sequence of events that led to the death of five competitors in four separate incidents during the 2022 event.
The first Isle of Man TT to take place since 2019, this year’s event was marred by accidents that claimed the lives of Mark Purslow on 1 June (Supersport Practice), Cesar Chanal on 4 June (Sidecar Race 1), Davy Morgan on 6 June (Supersport Race 2), Roger Stockton and Bradley Stockton on 10 June (Sidecar Race 2).
First held in 1907, the Isle of Man TT has long been notorious for its status as one of the world’s most dangerous sporting events. In those 125 years, a total of 156 competitors have died on the TT alone, while that figure swells to 265 fatalities on the high-speed 37.7-mile Mountain Course circuit when you factor in other events held there, such as the Manx GP and Classic TT.
Indeed, across the 73 TT events held between 1946 and 2022, only once - in 1982 - has the TT not recorded at least one death attributed to racing there.
Even so, this year’s five deaths marks a particularly bleak week as the worst loss of life at a single event since 1989.
An investigation is now underway to determine the events that led to the death of each competitor, while a team will be initiated to review the incidents and recommend changes in future.
Full statement from the ACU Events Ltd.
“ACU Events Ltd, race organisers of the Isle of Man TT Races have confirmed that a comprehensive investigative process is being followed for each of the serious incidents that occurred during the 2022 Isle of Man TT Races.
The investigations systematically analyse every aspect of these incidents using established root cause methodology. A multi-professional team involving all partner organisations reviews the events that occurred and recommendations on the way the event will be delivered in the future will be made.
“After every incident we work tirelessly to understand the circumstances, establish key learning and implement changes as soon as possible,” TT Clerk of the Course, Gary Thompson MBE, BEM. ‘Any fatality during an event is a tragedy. As an organisation we promise to take any actions that can help improve safety and undertake this at the earliest opportunity.”
As well as the tragedies that occurred on track, the TT was rocked further last week with the announcement that Olivier Lavorel had been incorrectly identified as a fatality during the Sidecar TT when in fact it was his partner racing with him - Cesar Chanel - that had in fact died.
