Who was Shane Richardson and what happened to the British Superbike rider at Oulton Park?

SHANE RICHARDSON tragically died following a horrific crash at a British Superbikes event at Oulton Park.

The 29-year-old was involved in a fatal collision which saw 11 riders fall on turn one of the bank holiday Monday race in Cheshire.

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The New Zealander was racing for Astro-JJR Hippo Suzuki, having moved to the UK in 2019. 

Shane finished ninth in last year’s British Supersport Championship having previously been crowned New Zealand rider of the year. 

The Wellington native is survived by his wife Hannah and two children.

Tragically, just hours before the race, Shane posted a clip from an interview on his Instagram about his excitement for race day.

He said: “Sprint race was good. Bad start, went backwards quite a few positions.

“But we managed to figure it out, get some good consistent pace going, matching the times with a few of the boys ahead of us.

“So yeah, looking forward to tomorrow, hopefully get a better start and be a bit more in the mix.”

What happened to Shane Richardson?

The incident happened at the first turn when one rider lost control and skidded across the tarmac into another, resulting in a ‘chain reaction’ crash. 

One bike caught fire within the pile-up, which saw medics race onto the track before the event was abandoned. 

Shane was initially treated trackside before being taken to the medical centre with “severe chest injuries”. 

He passed away while being transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital. 

British rider Owen Jenner, 21, also passed away as a result of the crash, while fellow Brit Tom Tunstall was taken to hospital with significant back and abdominal injuries. 

A further five riders were treated for minor injuries but did not require additional medical assistance. 

In an official statement, MotorSport Vision Racing, who are responsible for circuit operations at Oulton Park, confirmed the heartbreaking news about Shane and Owen’s passing. 

It read: “At the start of this afternoon’s Quattro Group British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park, exiting turn one, Old Hall corner on the first lap, there was a chain reaction incident involving 11 riders falling. The race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed.

“Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention, the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled.

“This catastrophic accident has tragically resulted in two riders being fatally injured, and another sustaining significant injuries.”

Fellow Kiwi rider, Morgan McLaren-Wood, sustained minor injuries in the crash and took to social media to pay tribute.

He said: “Struggling to find the words for what happened today. 

“Rest in peace, Shane and Owen. My heart goes out to both of their families during this heartbreaking time.”

Motorcycling New Zealand president Michael McLeod explained how the incident has rocked their community. 

He told the Herald: “It’s a tragic shock to the motorcycle racing community in New Zealand because he’s such a well-respected competitor and mentor to a lot of young up-and-coming riders that are now competing in Europe and England as well.

“He was a fantastic guy, he’d always stop and have a chat. He’s a real nice bloke and it’s a real shame.”

Honda Racing, who compete in the SuperSport championship, said: “The motorcycle community is tightly knit and we share the profound sadness at the outcome of today’s accident at Oulton Park. 

“Our thoughts are with the riders, their families, friends, team members and the entire BSB paddock. We go through days like this as one community.”

Why is Shane Richardson’s death being investigated by police?

An investigation has been launched by Cheshire Police following the tragic crash. 

Cheshire Police said: “Police are investigating two deaths on behalf of the coroner following a multiple collision at Oulton Park this afternoon.

“Emergency services were called to the scene following the collision which resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another with serious injuries.

“The Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing are investigating the full circumstances of the incident in conjunction with the Coroner and Cheshire Police.”

Shane Richardson’s racing history

Shane started his racing career in New Zealand taking part in the Suzuki Series and Cemetery Circuit but quickly took his talents abroad. 

He went on to compete in the US winning the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 race in 2018. 

The success Shane found led to him moving permanently to the UK where he began competing in British Superbikes racing in 2019.