Steve Mercer pictured at Sulby Bridge heading a group of riders anti-clockwide back to the Grandstand.

Other riders including Ryan Kneen (second from left) wait for instructions. Picture: David Skillicorn

Steve Mercer is in critical care in hospital in Liverpool after his machine was involved in a collision with an official course car at Ballacrye, near Ballaugh last Wednesday.

The course car driven by an ACU official with a police sergeant and constable as passengers, was on its way to the accident near Churchtown, which claimed the life of Manx TT star Dan Kneen during that evening’s qualifying session.

An investigation into the incident, which has been described as a catastrophic systems failure by one former roads policing officer, is being carried out jointly by police and race organisers ACU Events.

And it is likely that the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate will also get involved.

Inquiries are focusing on whether riders were given instructions to return to the Grandstand anti-clockwise round the course - and if they were, exactly who gave that instruction.

In a non-serious red flag incident, it has often been the case that riders will be escorted round the course back to the pits by travelling marshals.

At 6.34pm on Wednesday, clerk of the course, Gary Thompson, tweeted: ’

One of those riders halted at Sulby Bridge was Dan Kneen’s brother Ryan, who was unaware that his sibling had been involved in the crash.

Marshals and riders were chatting with photographers at Sulby Bridge about 6.53pm when a shout came out that riders were approaching anti-clockwise from the Kerrowmoar area.

A group of around 10 passed by heading towards Ballaugh, led by Steve Mercer and James Cowton. They were not being led by a travelling marshal or an official vehicle.

The riders assembled at Sulby Bridge asked marshals if they could then restart their machines and follow in that direction, but were told quite firmly it was not possible as the instruction to release the riders had not been received over the TETRA radio.

Several minutes later two police vehicles and a motorcycle arrived at Sulby Bridge and the latter headed off in the direction of Ballacrye.

A course car had collided with Mercer’s bike.

Those in the course car were shaken but otherwise unhurt.

Following the incident, the chairman of the Strategic Motorsport Group, chief secretary Will Greenhow, immediately called a meeting of members.

It was held on Thursday morning, and included senior officers from the departments for Enterprise, Home Affairs, Infrastructure and Health and Social Care.

On Thursday, clerk of the course Gary Thompson MBE confirmed that a strict red flag procedure will now take place with immediate effect.

Riders will not be allowed to move until a red flag incident has been cleared, regardless of how long it may take to clear.

And they will only be permitted to move in course direction and under the control of travelling marshals at the front and rear.

Bernard Warden, head of the island’s Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate, said: ’

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