Four more riders have been killed at this years Isle of Man TT races. This brings the total to more than 260 people killed since the race, which brings in more than £250 million and attracts up to 50,000 valuable visitors every year, was started in 1907.

One of this years fatalities was Paul Shoesmith, 50, who has been honoured with a “Spirit of the TT” PR award by race sponsors Poker Stars, a gambling website based on the island. Race organisers are ACU Events Ltd.

A previous fatality was David Jeffries, 30, who hit a telegraph pole at 160mph in 2003. Nine times winner Jeffries, and the setter of the fastest time over the 37.75 mile course once commented ” Anyone who competes on the island must accept that they might be going home in a box” One well known motorcyclist critic was Barry Sheene who rode the course in 1971 and commented that it was “impossible to make it even reasonably safe”.