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A father and son race team have been killed in a horrific 100mph-plus crash at the Isle of Man TT, bringing this year’s tragic death toll to five.
Roger and Bradley Stockton, from Crewe in Cheshire, died yesterday after their sidecar crashed at the infamous Ago’s Leap section of the course.
Father Roger, 46, was competing in his 20th Tourist Trophy (TT) race, while 21-year-old Bradley was taking part for the first time.
They were on the second and final lap of the world-famous race on Ago’s Leap when they crashed at high speed.
Their tragic deaths brings the number of fatalities on the course this year up to five, the worst death toll since 2014.
Fellow racers Cesar Chanal, Mark Purslow and Davy Morgan were all killed in crashes on the 37-mile long course which winds its way round roads on the island.
Chanal, who was killed on Saturday, June 4, died on the same section of road as the father and son team.
The section of road takes its name from Italian motorcycle racer Giacomo Agostini, who famously rode over the hill on one wheel in the 1970 tournament.
The course has now seen 265 fatalities since it was first used as a road-racing circuit in 1908.
Roger Stockton, 46, and his son Bradley, 21, died on Friday, June 10, after their sidecar crashed on Ago’s Leap
César Chanal was killed on the same section of track in a crash that place only six days earlier, on June 4
Mark Purslow, 29, was killed going round the fearsome Ballagarey turn at around 170mph on June 1
Northern Ireland’s Davy Morgan (pictured) died after an accident in the Supersport Race on June 6
The pair were racing together in the sidecar event (pictured) with Roger the driver and Bradley the passenger
The Isle of Man TT Races said: ‘With a deep sense of sorrow, the Isle of Man TT Races can confirm that Roger and Bradley Stockton were both killed in an incident on the second and final lap of the second Sidecar Race.
‘The incident occurred at Ago’s Leap, just under one mile into the lap.
‘Roger and Bradley were father and son, and driver and passenger respectively.’
The statement continued: ‘Roger was an experienced TT competitor, with today’s race marking his 20th TT race start.
‘He competed at the TT regularly from 2000 to 2008, before then returning in 2010, 2017 and at this year’s event.
‘In his career, he claimed a total of twelve top-20 finishes and four top-10 finishes, as well as 10 Bronze Replicas.
Five riders have been killed so far in this year’s tournament, with three dying on Ago’s Leap
Roger Bradley were killed after their sidecar crashed on the second and final lap of the race
While it was Roger’s twentieth Tourist Trophy (TT) race, it was Bradley’s first ever in the competition
‘Bradley was a newcomer to the TT and finished his first TT race on Monday, securing an impressive 8th-place finish alongside his father.
‘2022 was their fifth season racing together, and Roger and Bradley were regular podium finishers and frontrunners in the British F2 Sidecar Cup Championship, finishing second in the championship in 2021.
‘The Isle of Man TT Races pass on their deepest sympathy to Roger and Bradley’s families, loved ones, and friends.’
In a tribute posted on Facebook, their family said they were ‘shocked to the core’.
Rachel Stockton, Roger’s niece, wrote: ‘Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to express how our family are feeling right now. Not only to lose one member of the family but two in the same incident has absolutely shocked us to the core.
‘Roger and Brad absolutely loved racing, it was their dream to race the TT together and they achieved 8th in the first race together and what a proud moment that was!
‘Thank you for everyone’s kind comments and condolences, they really mean the world to my family and I!
‘Ride in peace Uncle Roger Stockton and Bradley Stockton. Will be forever missed.’
Earlier this week the organisers admitted they had named the wrong French sidecar racer during the crash which killed Cesar Chanal.
On Saturday it was announced French passenger Olivier Lavorel had been killed in a crash during a sidecar race with teammate Cesar Chanal during lap one of the race on the Mountain Course.
Video from the scene shows the sidecar burst into flames following the crash on Ago’s Leap.
A marshal is seen running towards a the crash that claimed the live of Cesar Chanal on Saturday, June 4
Four days later, the organisers issued a statement clarifying they had named the wrong person killed – and that it was Chanal who had died. Lavorel remains in a critical condition in hospital in Liverpool, and the families of both men have been informed.
Welsh rider Purslow was killed in qualifying on June 1 and Northern Ireland’s Davy Morgan died after an accident in the Supersport Race on June 6.
While it is often the racers who are hurt in crashes, there have been spectator fatalities on the course.
In 2007 two people spectators were killed and two marshals injured when a motorbike crashed on the course.
Dean Jacob, 33, and Gregory Kenzig, 52, were both fatally injured when rider Marc Ramsbotham, 34, crashed during the mountain section of the race.
There have been calls in the past for the race to be banned, with critics saying it is too dangerous.
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