A prominent motorcyclist lost his life at one of Ulster’s leading road races as a result of his bike’s front brake failing, an inquest has heard.

Martin Finnegan, 29, was killed in an accident at the Tandragee 100 while among the leading riders in the Supersport 600 race in May 2008.


The Dublin racer – a married father-of-one – came off his bike at a section of the famous course known as Marlacoo Corner. He was thought to be travelling in excess of 100mph in the lead-up to the crash.

Speaking at the first day of the inquest, coroner John Leckey revealed there was “clear evidence” that the front brake on Mr Finnegan’s Yamaha motorcycle failed, however, he admitted engineering experts and competitors were so far unable to reach a consensus as to the exact cause of the failure.

Nicknamed by his peers as the “flying Finn”, the Irish motorcyclist was highly respected as one of the leading road racers in his field.

Prior to his fatal accident, Finnegan had earlier claimed an impressive win in the open race at the annual Co Armagh meeting.

Fellow rider Ryan Farquhar – who was behind Mr Finnegan in the Supersport race when he crashed – said he saw smoke coming from his fellow competitor’s motorcycle prior to the fatal accident.

However, the Dungannon rider admitted there was no indication whatsoever that there was a serious problem until seconds before the crash.

“All his lines were perfect,” Mr Farquhar said.

“At no stage did he have to fight and wrestle with the bike until Marlacoo Corner.”

As well as witnessing the extraction of smoke, Mr Farquhar said he noticed Mr Finnegan’s bike “shaking badly” prior to the deceased being thrown off the machine.

Stressing the importance of the front brake mechanism, Mr Farquhar said: “It is the only way you can stop the bike. If there is any sort of problem you are not going to stop.”

Mr Farquhar revealed that he has never suffered from brake failure during his race career to-date, but stressed 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.

Former road racer Philip McCallen agreed with those sentiments.

He said: “If you stay with the bike it is possible you can take some avoiding action from a massive obstacle that might be there. It is not lost until it is lost.”

David Scott, who was a spectator close to where the accident occurred, recalled the circumstances of the collision.

His fiancee and father both sustained injuries as a result of the incident.

“I ride a motorcycle myself and knowing the way he [Martin] was coming down, I knew something was not right,” he said.

Mr Scott maintained the bike appeared to be “snaking at the rear” and the rider was “doing his best to stop”.

He said he then remembered “something large coming through the air” and managing to “get out of the road in time”.

The motorcycling enthusiast added that the accident occurred in a “matter of seconds”.

The inquest, which was attended in person by Mr Finnegan’s parents and widow, Brenda, also heard evidence from engineers associated with the Millsport Yamaha team and from a scrutiniser who checked the motorcycle before the race.

Terry Patterson, who represented the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland at the race event, confirmed the motorbike in question met the required safety standards prior to taking up its position on the starting line.

Technical steward Shaun Anderson, who inspected the bike following 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.

The inquest continues.

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Loose bolt 'caused bike racer's death'

Top Irish motorcyclist Martin Finnegan was killed in a 100mph crash after his front brake failed because of a loose bolt, a coroner ruled today.

The 29-year-old father of one died at the Tandragee 100 while among the leading racers after his machine flipped on to a bank as he approached a corner.

The Belfast courtroom heard the vital part was not tight when the machine was examined following the accident.

Afterwards, his widow claimed racing authorities were not taking safety seriously enough.

"They are treating it like a hobby. If it is a professional sport, it should be treated in a professional way," Brenda Finnegan said.

The rider, from Rhencullen, Main Street, Lusk, near Dublin, was killed in May 2008 when his front brake failed as he approached a sharp bend known as Marlacoo Corner, sending him careering into the bank during the second lap of the Supersport 600 race.

Witnesses said they saw him fighting with the bike, which was shaking violently as it approached the bend.

Mr Finnegan was nicknamed the Flying Finn and was a former Manx Grand Prix winner who had been racing since 1997. He held the record for the fastest speed at the Isle of Man.

Mrs Finnegan said: "It has been an extremely difficult three-and-a-half years.

"I am happy with the outcome today, it is the outcome we were looking for and I am glad Martin has been completely exonerated. He did everything he could but unfortunately it was not enough.

"If the course safety had been different, he could have had a chance of surviving the crash."

Experts at the inquest agreed that if the victim did not suffer severe "tank slap" (involving the petrol container) then in all probability the cause of failure was the loose banjo bolt, forensic scientist Damien Coll said.

Although the part was loose upon examination after the crash, Martin Gallagher, chief mechanic of Millsport Racing for which Finnegan raced, said every bolt was checked before the race.

Senior coroner John 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 added that the motorcycle struck a grass verge, catapulting the rider off the bike. He died at the scene.

Following the inquest, Mrs Finnegan said it was clear from the evidence of fellow racer Ryan Farquhar that at all times while her husband was in his view his riding was exemplary.

She added that the conclusion was inevitable that he did not suffer from tank slap leading to brake pad "knock back".

"The overwhelming conclusion therefore is that he lost his front braking power as a consequence of a loose banjo bolt on the braking system," she said.

"Unfortunately this was the only area of the course with no run-off to provide an escape route for Martin, despite being the fastest section of the course, further exacerbated by the fact that there were no safety measures in place such as airbags, which it is clear from the evidence would have afforded Martin a good chance of survival.

"Rerouting the course or providing airbags would have afforded an effective safety provision."


by Michael McHugh