Quad bike race star killed in Cumbrian road accident (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Quad bike race star killed in Cumbrian road accident

5:15pm Wednesday 28th December 2011 in News

A FORMER motorcycle racing champion and top quad bike racer has died in a car crash.

Mark Watson, 26, of Alston, Cumbria, died when his white Ford Fiesta left the road and crashed into the wall of a house.

A former member of the Bishop Auckland-based quad bike team, Team Anderson ATV, he died in the early hours of yesterday.

The accident happened at 2.15am in Front Street, Alston.

A resident who lives near the crash scene said: “I heard a very loud bang – me and my wife were sleeping in the back room but we were woken up by the noise.”

Mr Watson was a former British Motocross sidecar champion in 2007 when he raced with his brother John.

He turned to quad bike racing in February 2008 and he went on to be ranked second in the country for quad biking.

His neighbour, Kath Graham, said she would often see him out walking his dog.

The mother-of-one, of Bruntley Meadows, Alston, said: “He always spoke to me when he saw me in a nice friendly manner.

“I knew his girlfriend, Roxanne Seaton, as I am a friend of her mum. Roxanne is such a sweet, lovely thing. It is terrible what has happened, especially at this time of year.”

A Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “The car crashed into a house.

“A man was killed at the scene and two other people were trapped. They were released prior to our arrival.”

Mr Watson, a builder who owned his own construction company, competed in events in Britain, Europe and the US.

He was named British under-21 champion in 2004 for sidecar racing and won the British MMX championships in 2009.

During his career, Mr Watson was airlifted to hospital where he spent five weeks after damaging his back.

He spent some time racing for Team Anderson ATV, owned by Paul Anderson, a former British Quad Champion.

The news was reported on the Quad Online website, dedicated to the sport.

It read: “Top UK quad racing star Mark Watson had died following a road accident last night. Our thoughts are with Mark’s family and friends at this time.”

Mr Watson’s family were too upset to comment. Anyone who can help inquiries is asked to contact Cumbria Police, on 101