Two motorcyclists have died in separate accidents on the opening day of the Isle of Man TT race on Saturday.
Australian driver Dwight Beare, 27, was killed after an accident near the Rhencullen series of bends on the first lap of Sidecar Race 1, while Paul Shoesmith, 50, from Lancashire, was killed in an accident on Sulby Straight during the evening's solo practice.
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The solo session was abandoned following his accident and organisers offered their sympathies to the families of both victims.
Thousands of bikers will conduct a 'legacy lap' later today, to honour the two men who died and all the other racers who have died, according to the BBC.
#RoadRacing TT Man | Dwight Beare y Paul Shoesmith fallecen en el #TT de la Isla de Man https://t.co/vL7BGLO9lE pic.twitter.com/5qQcQwNyzt
— super7moto (@super7moto) June 5, 2016
A statement from organisers ACU Events, paid tribute to Shoesmith and his racing team.
"(Paul) achieved his fastest ever lap around the TT Mountain Course in today’s Superbike Race, lapping at 125.896mph and finishing 29th. He won forty bronze replicas including the one he received for today’s race."
Dwight Beare's passenger, Benjamin Binns, suffered injuries as a result of the crash and was airlifted to the island's Nobles Hospital, where his condition has been described as stable.
The annual 37.73-mile motorcycle road race is one of the world's most prestigious biking events but is also renowned for being one of the most dangerous.
Over 200 rider deaths have been recorded since the races first began.
