Isle of Man TT claims victim
2006-06-06 14:16
London - Japanese motorcyclist Jun Maeda has died as a result of injuries sustained during a crash in practice for the Isle of Man TT races.
Maeda, 38, from Kyoto, collided with Irish rider Seamus Greene during practice on May 29.
He died in a Manchester hospital after being airlifted from the Isle of Man, off England's north-western coast.
A spokesman for Maeda's team, ASR Evomoto Honda, said: "Since he first raced here in 1997, the TT meant everything to Jun.
"His love for the TT and the island itself made him work hard all year, every year, to get back here. Even after his accident he was talking about coming back to the TT next year.
"Jun used to say the Isle of Man felt like home."
Greene remains in a critical condition in Liverpool's Walton Hospital after sustaining head injuries.
- SAPA