Isle of Man TT 2019: The 258th victim is tragically murdered

English road racing driver Daley Mathison died at the age of 27 after dropping 130 miles to the TT at the Isle of Man.

The horror incident occurred in a tight left turn of the third round of Snugborough in the Union Mills approach to the RST Superbike race.

An expert in the road race who did not attend the crash said that if Mathison was sailing at the normal pace at the turn, it was "between 120mph".

The race on the 37.73-mile mountain course was immediately flagged with a red flag and an air ambulance arrived at the scene where Mathison was taken to the hospital, but sadly passed away.

His wife published a moving tribute to the Stockton-on-Tees racer's Twitter page with devastating news.

She wrote, "It's not something I've always wanted to write, but we're going there.

"Daley, as Daisy says, is now sleeping with the fairies – that's all I can bring myself to say now.

"The last image I saw of my husband was that of a man so happy with life and so proud of his shopping."

Mathison, driver at Penz13.com BMW, participated in his sixth TT of the Isle of Man after his debut in 2014.

He finished second in the zero race in 2018 and third in 2016 and 2017.

Tributes poured into social media once the shocking news was announced – with legendary biker Carl Fogarty among the first to be published.

Aged 53, he wrote: "Sad to learn of the death of Daley Mathison in the day's super-bike race.

"Thoughts go to family and friends."

The race in which he participated was immediately marked with a red flag, the result being declared twice.

The race organizers, ACU, issued a long statement saying: "ACU Events Ltd regrets to confirm that Daley Mathison, 27, of Stockton on Tees, Durham, was killed at a incident occurred during the Superbike race today at the TT races of the Isle of Man.

"The accident happened in Snugborough, just over three kilometers from the course, in the third lap of the race.

"Daley was an experienced competitor and was ranked 19th for today's race.

"ACU Events Ltd wishes to extend its deepest condolences to Daley's wife, Natalie, her family and friends."

According to the Northeast Echo, Mathison started the race at the age of 12 and helped students from her native North East in their racing ambitions.

Last year, two runners lost their lives at the TT of the Isle of Man.

Local man Dan Kneen lost his life during the Superbike TT qualifying and Adam Lyon was killed during the Monster Energy Supersport 1 race.

Alan "Bud" Johnson, 62, crashed and died during a training session.

He was a 30-year veteran of the world-renowned road race.

In total, 258 runners were killed at the event since the beginning, in 1911.