IOM TT 2018: Dan Kneen has died during Superbike qualifying session this evening

Popular, fast and stylish racer Dan Kneen has died following an incident at the Isle of Man TT this evening.

The 30-year-old Manxman, from Onchan on the Island, fell from the Tyco BMW at Churchtown on the opening lap of today’s Superbike/Supersport/Supersport session. It’s believed that Dan died at the scene.

Dan made his mountain course debut at the Manx Grand Prix in 2008 and won an unprecedented three races – the Junior, the Newcomers C and the Ultra Lightweight MGP Races.

Widely-tipped to be on the brink of TT race winning form this year, he achieved his first TT podium in last year’s Superstock Race, finishing third in the Superstock TT Race. He has a fastest official lap of 130.347mph which he set in last year’s Superstock Race and recorded a lap of 132.258mph (17:06.994) in last night’s Superbike qualifying session.

Kneen joined the Moneymore-based team after impressing last year at the Ulster Grand Prix, when he was called in as a replacement for the injured Ian Hutchinson. He made a winning start to the new road racing season at the Tandragee 100 earlier this month, where he won the feature Superbike race after finishing as the runner-up in the opener.

Shortly later, news of a second incident was confirmed in which a rider hit a course car at Ballacrye, near Ballaugh, when on its way to the initial accident. That rider was airlifted to Noble’s Hospital. No update on his condition has been announced.