Oulton Park rider's final message to dad hours before dying in Superbike race

Owen Jenner sent a heartfelt tribute to his dad hours before . The 21-year-old was one of two casualties in a horror 11-bike pile-up, which left eight other riders injured.

Jenner was treated on the track before being transferred to the circuit's medical facility. Despite resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead after succumbing to a catastrophic head injury. Shane Richardson also died from severe chest injuries. The 29-year-old had been rushed to Royal Stoke University Hospital but died before he arrived.

In a heartbreaking final public message before his death, Jenner paid tribute to his father on his birthday. The post from a day ago read: "Happy birthday to the old boy. Wouldn't be where I am without him and I know he wouldn't wanna be anywhere else on his special day!"

The words were accompanied by a picture of a beaming Jenner as he collected a trophy alongside his proud dad. The youngster, from Crowborough, East Sussex, was the 2024 British GP2 Champion.

Among the other titles listed on his public Facebook page are the 2023 British Junior Superstock Championship, the 2020 British Junior Supersport Championship, and the 2018 Team Green Championship.

Cheshire Police are investigating the incident. Race organisers MotorSport Vision Racing said: "At the start of this afternoon's Quattro Group British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park, exiting turn one, Old Hall corner on the first lap, there was a chain reaction incident involving 11 riders falling.

"The race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed. Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention, the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled."

Richardson also posted on social media shortly before he died. He shared a video interview in which he said: "The sprint race was good. [I had a] bad start, went backwards quite a few positions.

"But we managed to figure it out and get some good consistent pace going, matching the times with a few of the boys ahead of us. So yeah, looking forward to tomorrow, hopefully get a better start and be a bit more in the mix."

Several other drivers have paid tribute. Richardson's fellow New Zealander, Morgan McLaren-Wood, one of the 11 riders involved, said: "Struggling to find the words for what happened today. Rest in peace, Shane and Owen. My heart goes out to both of their families during this heartbreaking time."