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Loose bolt to blame for rider’s death

Thursday, 19 January 2012

The Marlacoo Corner section of the Tandragee 100 where Lusk racer Martin Funnegan lost his life in 2008. At the inquest to his death last week, Coroner John Leckey concluded that the crash was a result of a loose banjo bolt. SG0328

A FRONT brake failure has been blamed for the death of Martin Finnegan at the 2008 Tandragee 100.
The ruling was made by Coroner John Leckey at the inquest in Belfast into the death of Finnegan, 29, during the Supersport 600 event at the annual County Armagh road races.
The married father of one from Lusk came off his bike at the Marlacoo Corner section of the course. And in his approach to the corner, Finnegan was believed to have been travelling in excess of 100mph.
Senior coroner Lecky heard from several witnesses as well experts during proceedings and, vitally, fellow racer Ryan Farquhar, who was directly behind Mr Finnegan when the crash happened.
Mr Farquhar, an experienced racer from Dungannon - who was travelling behind Mr Finnegan - said in evidence that there was no indication whatsoever that there was a serious problem until seconds before the crash.
“At no stage did he (Finnegan) have to fight and wrestle with the bike until Marlacoo Corner," he said.
Mr Farquhar added that he had witnessed extraction of smoke coming from Finnegan's motorcycle and that the bike was "shaking badly" prior to the deceased being thrown off the machine.
As well as that Mr Farquhar explained to the court the importance of a front brake on a motorcycle.
“It is the only way you can stop the bike," he added.
“If there is any sort of problem, you are not going to stop.
He also revealed that he had never suffered a brake failure during his racing career to date but added that he would have reacted in a similar manner if faced with such a scenario.
“I would have done what Martin did and hung on until the bitter end," he said.
DVD footage was shown in which Finnegan can be seen pumping his front brake as he steers the bike left in an attempt to take the corner at a wider berth before the back wheel hits a bump in the road, flipping him into the bank.
Experts at the inquest agreed that if the victim did not suffer a "tank slap" then in all possibility the cause of failure was a loose banjo bolt.
Although the part was loose upon examination after the crash, Martin Gallagher, chief mechanic for Finnegan's team Millsport Racing, said every bolt was checked before the race.
“When the race began I would say the banjo bolt was checked before the race," he said.
“I know it was sufficiently tightened. I checked it with a spanner check (before the race)."
Terry Patterson, who represented the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland at the race confirmed the bike in question met the required safety standards prior to taking up its position on the starting line.
And technical steward Shaun Anderson, who inspected the bike after the accident, revealed that brake fluid was found to be leaking onto the coolant bottle.
He claimed this was due to the bike's banjo bolt not being tensioned as a result of the crash impact.
David Scott, who was a spectator close to where the accident occurred, recalled the circumstances of the collision.
His fiancee and father were both injured as a result of the crash.
“I ride a motorcycle myself and knowing the way he (Finnegan) was coming down, I knew something was not right," he said.
Mr Scott added the bike appeared to be "snaking at the rear" and the rider was "doing his best to stop."
He added he then remembered "something large coming through the air" and managing to "get out of the road in time."
Mr Scott further added that the accident occurred in a "matter of seconds."
In summing up, coroner Leckey said brake failure was the "sole catalyst" for the loss of control.
“Having carefully considered all the evidence in conjunction with the agreed position of the experts, I am able to conclude that, on the balance of probabilities, the loose banjo bolt was the cause of failure of the front brake," he said.
He also added that the motorcycle struck a grass verge, catapulting the rider off the bike. Mr Finnegan died instantly at the scene.
Mr Leckey thanked Mr Finnegan's wife and all witnesses for attending the inquest.

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