Motorsport in the Island is mourning the death of one of its most popular competitors.

Kirk Michael man Colin Hardman was killed today (Saturday) during a practice session at the Cock o’the North & Classic Road Races in Scarborough.

Hardman, a passenger in Gary Bryan’s side car, died from injuries sustained when the outfit crashed at the entrance to The Esses.

His death comes just a month after he and Bryan secured a fifth place finish in the TT Sidecar A race.

But it’s perhaps as a passenger with Dave Molyneux that he’s best remembered during Molyneux’s first ever TT success in 1989.

Hardman and Molyneux were also runners-up to Rob Fisher and Rick Long in the TT Sidecar B race four years ago.

Organisers are carrying out a full investigation after yesterday’s tragedy – the first ever sidecar fatality during sixty years of racing at the Oliver’s Mount circuit.

Press liaison officer, Phil Edge, says Hardman will be greatly missed (audio file attached):