A Northern Irish rider has been killed at the Isle of Man TT races in a crash during the first Supersport race of the event.
Davy Morgan, 52, from Co. Down died following an incident on the final lap of the mountain section of Monday's race.
A former North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix race winner, Morgan is the third competitor to die at this year's TT following the deaths of Welshman Mark Purslow, 29 and French sidecar passenger Olivier Lavarel, 35.
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The Isle of Man TT organisers said in a statement: "It is with a heavy heart that the Isle of Man TT Races can confirm that Davy Morgan, 52, from Saintfield, Northern Ireland, was killed in an incident on the third and final lap of the first Supersport Race of the 2022 Isle of Man TT Races.
"The accident occurred at the 27th Milestone on the mountain section of the Course.
"Davy was a highly experienced TT competitor, having contested every TT since his debut in the 2002 Production 600 Race, and today's Supersport Race was his 80th TT start. Davy's TT career included a 7th-place finish in the 2006 Senior TT and a career-best 5th-place finish in the 2008 Lightweight TT.
"Davy had recorded 49 finishes which included 25 top-twenty results, and his previous performances had earned him 14 Silver Replicas and 30 Bronze Replicas.
"His best lap around the TT Mountain Course was at an average speed of 125.134mph which he set in the 2010 Senior TT.
"The Isle of Man TT Races pass on their deepest sympathy to Davy's partner Trudy, his family, loved ones, and friends."
There have been 263 fatalities to date in the TT races, Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT held on the island's public roads since 1907.
An Irish road racing stalwart, Morgan had been contemplating quitting the sport before the onset of Covid but decided to continue with his career.
Speaking in an interview with the Belfast News Letter back in 2020, Morgan said: "I've actually been contemplating quitting road racing for the past couple of years, but Covid has given me the opportunity to see what it would be like without motorbikes.
"I'm glad I had that chance because if I had decided that I was finished and sold the bikes and everything else, I'd have been kicking myself if I feel like I feel now because the whole infrastructure would have been gone, and it would be so difficult to start again.
"Being away from racing has given me the chance to reflect on what motorbike racing means to me, so I have no desire to retire from the sport for a while yet, and it's been a big part of my life for 27 years now."
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