Crowborough’s young motorcycling champion killed in a horror race crash last year died from “unsurvivable injuries” his inquest has heard.

Former Beacon Academy student, Owen Jenner, 21 died in a multiple pile-up at the first corner of the Oulton Park circuit in Tarporley, Cheshire, on 5 May. A second rider, Shane Richardson, 29, was also killed in the crash which shook the motor racing world.

A coroner has now recorded a conclusion of accidental death and said the evidence suggested the race organisers had followed “all required procedure”.

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Owen died at the scene from head injuries and his inquest, held at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington, heard post-mortem examinations revealed their injuries were “unsurvivable”.

The Supersport Championship, in which the crash happened, is a support class to the main British Superbike series.

Race director Stuart Higgs, of organisers Motor Sport Vision Racing, said the first corner, known as Old Hall corner, was not considered to be an area of high risk and had no previous fatalities. Owen was one of 37 competitors lined up for the first race of the 2025 season on the Bank Holiday weekend, the inquest heard.

Asked by senior coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, whether the sport involved an inherent risk of death, Higgs replied: “Sadly it does. The riders sign a very cold declaration that they understand they may risk injury or death.”

PC Andrew Balmforth, a forensic collision investigator for Cheshire Police, said he was satisfied there were no issues with the racetrack and that licence and inspection requirements had been obtained beforehand. He said both men were hit by their fellow competitors but there was nothing the other riders could have done.

Owen had been riding motorcycles from the age of six and was considered a “rising star” after he won three British championship titles across different classes. A former pupil of Sir Henry Fermor School then Beacon Academy, he was already well-known in the motorcycle racing world.

By the age of 20 he had already been crowned British Champion in different racing classes. And in 2024 he graduated to British GP2 class and astonished everyone as claimed the crown on his first attempt, dominating the GP2 class with 18 victories and a total of 20 podiums from 22 races.

His parents, Michael and Emma, had travelled to Cheshire for the weekend and Michael said his son had been “excited” to start the race.

Speaking to the Crowborough News shortly after the incident last year his mum, Emma, said the family had been “overwhelmed” by the out-pouring of love, kindness, and empathy of the local community.

She said: “It wasn’t so much a surprise within the racing community because that is very tight knit, but to know so many people in Crowborough, in the surrounding area, and around the world have been so affected by what happened and so kind, has been amazing. It has been a massive support.”

She added it had been apparent to everyone that Owen was made for motorcycle racing. “We knew he was good – and the championship wins showed that – but it was only six months ago we realised exactly how good.”

“He suddenly matured in six months and was totally focussed. He was riding a bike that was very different, and very difficult to ride. But he believed himself and knew he could do it. He had the talent, and he had the self-belief. That confidence wasn’t arrogance because time and time again he proved he was right on the track.”

She said Owen had also been acutely aware of the risks and the dangers of such a high speed sport. “He had had various crashes and was totally aware of the dangers – as were we. But everything is done within the sport to make it as safe as possible. My bigger fear was a knock on the door at 2am from the police saying there had been an accident on the road.”

Such was the popularity of the young star that his funeral at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium had to be live-streamed – and was watched by thousands in Crowborough, the UK, and around the world. And two weeks after the tragedy at Oulton Park, the motorcycle racing community came together in their hundreds for a special tribute at Donnington Park.