"BIG ELEMENT OF RISK"

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18988, 30 April 1927, Page 14

"BIG ELEMENT OF RISK"

■■ 4 RACING MOTOR-CYCLIST'S DEATH. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, April 29. "There is always a big element oi risk in motor-cycle racing," said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at an inquest on James Alexander Davidson, the motor-cyclist who was killed at Takapuna cycle races on March 26th. 'lt is plain that the club does its best to make novices take every precaution. The verdict will be 'Accidental death, he concluded. "Fast riding and a greasy track contributed largely to the accident, said Sergeant Rowell, who conducted the case. "I told Davidson before lie started racing not to attempt to hia machine," said Leslie Arthur Stencker> the machine inspector of the Auckland Motor-cycle Racing Club. "During the race in which Davidson was injured I was watching him. His back wheel appeared to skid outward from the rail, and the front part of the bike charged the rail before he could recover. He was a novice on the racing track, and the stewards told him to go round the course twice when it was empty, to satisfy them that he was a competent. rider. Several competitors in other races skidded slightly at the point where the accident happened." Witness, under cross-examination, said he considered the Takapuna course safe for racing. The course on the day was damp, and riders had to go carefully. Davidson was riding too fast for the experience he had of racing. Before that race he had ridden more carefully, but was gaining experience and confidence all the time. New riders should ride in races two or three times without attempting to win. Witness gave Davidson that advice.