TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
Malcolm Offline
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TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
[Image: StevemerecrEnquiry.jpg]

TT organisers have refused to release a report into how a competitor was hit head-on in a high-speed crash with an official car at this year's event.


The Auto Cycle Union (ACU) commissioned a former UK Motor Sport Association head to examine the 30 May crash which left Steve Mercer critically injured.

ACU boss Gary Thompson revealed some of the details in Rob Jones's report but would not disclose them all to the BBC.

The Manx government also refused to reveal the report's contents.

A Department of Enterprise spokesman said the report had been written "on a confidential basis" and that it "belongs to the ACU".

'Wrong way'

The 100mph accident happened during a practice session days before the opening Superbike race.
Mr Mercer, from Kent, was in hospital for five months and suffered multiple injuries including a broken back and fractured larynx. The car's driver was not injured.

The BBC understands Mr Mercer is taking legal action in relation to the crash.

The inquiry initially examined why he had been instructed to ride the wrong way down the course to the paddock following an earlier incident in which Manxman Dan Kneen was killed.

It is unclear who gave that order to Mr Mercer.

As well as being general secretary of the ACU, Mr Thompson is also clerk of the TT course and, as such, is responsible for safety.

The remit of Mr Jones' inquiry was extended to look at the structure of the ACU itself, the BBC has been told.

The BBC understands that Mr Jones, who previously investigated three deaths at a rally in the Scottish Borders in 2014, made a series of recommendations in relation to May's accident:
  • The continuation of a ban on riders travelling in the wrong direction on the TT course

  • A full review of marshal training

  • Additional training for those in race control

  • All course cars and travelling marshals to have tracking devices

He also refused the BBC's request for a copy of his report.

It is therefore unknown whether the ACU or any officials were criticised by Mr Jones.

While the BBC does not know how many recommendations were made, Mr Thompson insisted all of them were "being actioned".

Mr Jones said Mr Thompson's two roles were "too much for one person" and called for them to be separated.

The BBC has also contacted the Isle of Man TT Marshals Association but has yet to receive a response.

[Image: BBCNewsLogo.jpg]
(This post was last modified: 07-12-2018, 07:50 PM by Malcolm.)
07-12-2018, 07:29 PM
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BenjiesDad Offline
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#2
RE: TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
Surprise Surprise,,
Think the best way of commenting is just to say what a Whitewash,

But was great to see the pictures of steve back on a bike again early this week,

Wish him and the family well with there ongoing task ahead of them,
07-12-2018, 08:04 PM
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Alfie Noakes Offline
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#3
RE: TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
Quite disgraceful to be honest, mistakes happen but the main thing is to learn and going forward show that you've learned from said mistake. How then are they going to implement and show improvement/changes to oh you know the riders/crews/fans if it's all being carried out in secret ?.
09-12-2018, 01:13 PM
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scaramanga Offline
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RE: TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
we will find out the recommendations
as the report says they are all being actioned
its the other parts we wont hear about
and also if there are ongoing legal actions then its only normal for reports to be held back until suah a time that any legal action is settled
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proud to own and ride a british motorcycle  triumph daytona 675 Hehe
09-12-2018, 01:16 PM
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Timmy594 Offline
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#5
RE: TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
Transparency. NOT. Covering their own backsides. Maybe a friend of someone who's high up might have been criticised. Not a shock to be honest.
12-12-2018, 10:50 PM
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Alfie Noakes Offline
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#6
RE: TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
we may see the recommendations but what happened initially is what should be disclosed not particularly for finger pointing but for transparent honesty - in my trade of Facilties Management / Commercial Property Maintenance you would never ever get away with that style of cover up because the process is immediately taken out of your hands by the HSE - any near miss incident or accident on sites regardless of injuries results in a defined chain tracing of "who was last on site,where and who gave them permission" and an investigation/inquisition proceeds from there, this is standard procedure and it isn't possible and it's a criminal offence to cover things up with the HSE people so I struggle to understand how they can proceed in this manner unless as SM mentioned it's part of the legal process but as the report "extended to the structure of the ACU" i'd wager that's where the smokescreen is.
13-12-2018, 12:59 PM
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taxman Offline
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RE: TT organisers refuse to reveal contents of serious crash investigation
This appeared this week on the listings for IOM Courts https://www.courts.im/media/2024/chancery.pdf

If there's litigation then the details of the incident may come out in the wash.
13-02-2019, 02:25 PM
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