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A rising star of motorcycle road racing died in a 130mph crash at a notorious black spot in the North West 200, the inquest into his death has heard.
Coroner John Leckey told the hearing in Belfast that Mark Young, 22, from Cookstown in Co Tyrone, died from a traumatic head injury suffered in a crash in his debut ride at the event in May 2009.
The racer had been tipped for great things in the world of motorcycling and Mr Leckey expressed his "very deep sympathy" to the bereaved family who he said were steeped in the sport.
"I understand that as a family you were very supportive of motorcycle road racing. I understand it is like one big family. Everybody knows everybody else. Perhaps that will be some comfort to you in the future," he said to relatives who attended the inquest.
The inquest into Mr Young's death had been adjourned earlier in the year after a clash in the technical evidence provided by two consultant engineers.
Mr Leckey said he was unable to resolve the contradiction in evidence over the details of the fatal crash along a fast section of the route near Portrush, Co Antrim.
The coroner acknowledged that the subsequent delay in the inquest may have added to the stress for the family who had to return for Friday's resumed proceedings.
The hearing heard the evidence of race officials who witnessed the accident on Saturday May 16. The crash happened at the infamous Mather's Cross section, where racing legend Robert Dunlop was killed the previous year.
The statements from the witnesses, read out at the hearing, recounted how Mr Young appeared to lose control of his bike. Volunteer marshal Robin Anderson reported seeing the bike sliding from under the rider, while course flagman Robert Cairns noted: "I observed quite a lot of sparks coming up from the rider's knee wear."
Patrick Cushnahan echoed the evidence of other witnesses as he said the rider became separated from his bike and hit a grass verge before "flipping like a tumble or a somersault" through the air.
