24 Oct 2016

Fatal street race: Organisers 'adhered to every safety code'

1:29 pm on 24 October 2016

All safety precautions were taken at a Greymouth street race where a motorcyclist died in a crash, the Grey District mayor says.

Two motorcyclists taking part in yesterday's race collided; one was killed and the other injured.

The mayor, ​Tony Kokshoorn, said this is the first fatality at the event, which has been running for 27 years.

"The committee that runs this event run it under a set of rules of motorsport and you will find they have adhered to every safety code that is out there, Mr Kokshoorn said.

"You have a whole heap of motorbikes going around a course and you are up against accidents that can happen."

Mr Kokshoorn said he supported the committee's decision to continue the race after the accident.