Bike racer dies in crash at Manfeild

Friends gathered last night to support the family of a man who died yesterday in one of New Zealand's worst motorbike racing accidents.

Police are investigating the death of Palmerston North father and motorcycle enthusiast Owen Brunton, 50 in a crash that left seven other racers injured at the Manfeild circuit in Feilding.

Witnesses said the F3 Superlite race had been stopped with red flags after a small accident on the far side of the circuit. But, as the field of nearly 40 slowed to a halt in front of spectators in the main stand, one rider ploughed into the pack from behind.

Brunton died, and two other men, aged 32 and 52, were last night in Palmerston North hospital with chest, arm and leg injuries. A hospital spokesman said the two were in a stable and satisfactory condition. A fourth man, aged 38, was discharged from hospital last night, and four other men were treated at a local accident clinic. The race meet was run by Victoria Motor Cycle Club, whose president Derek Hill, secretary Phil Snowdon and treasurer Jeremy Needham all raced with Mr Brunton in the F3 Superlite league.

Mr Hill was last night in a state of shock and could remember little after witnessing the horrific smash. "It happened right beside me. I haven't really had a chance to gather my thoughts. A lot of the riders are in a state of disbelief and are quite traumatised."

He said Brunton was relatively new to the club and the sport, but was already a very well-liked member. The club was looking at what it could do for his family and members were gathering last night to support each other.

Police Detective Sergeant Ross Grantham said he would lead an investigation into the cause of Mr Brunton's death and the crash.

It was too early to speculate on possible charges.

David Appleton, president of Motorcycling New Zealand said the organisation's safety commissioner would be involved in the investigation.

Meanwhile, emergency services were busy yesterday as two people were killed in separate accidents in the North Island.

In the Bay of Plenty, a 19-year-old male passenger was killed and a 16-year-old seriously injured when a four-wheel-drive vehicle rolled on State Highway 1 at Waitahanui, south of Taupo.

Police said all the six occupants were from Te Puke - four of them from one family.

And police said a cyclist who died in the Wellington suburb of Wilton yesterday was not hit by a car, as first thought.

Senior Sergeant Peter McKay said the 62-year-old man died by the Otari Reserve about 1.20pm.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY