A DISTRAUGHT daughter made a plea for help yesterday in tracking down the motorcyclist whose outrageous riding led to the death of her father.

Police are so appalled at the death of 67-year-old Ralph Snowdon that an inquiry has been launched.

Officers say the hit-and-run rider was travelling with complete disregard for all other road users when the tragedy occurred on the North York Moors last Saturday afternoon.

Mr Snowdon, from Riccall, near York, was killed when his own motorbike was forced off the B1257 Helmsley to Stokesley road by an oncoming black-helmeted biker on a red sports machine.

The speeding rider, travelling south, was taking a racing line through a right-hand bend. Not only was he on the wrong side of the road but he was on the inside of Mr Snowdon's machine when they collided.

An instant later, he forced the rider following Mr Snowdon to swerve into a VW car, causing the innocent biker injuries which required hospital treatment.

Yesterday, Mr Snowdon's daughter Mandy, 39, wept as she appealed to the public for help in tracking down the rogue rider.

"I feel lost and lonely and I have been robbed of my dad," she told a Press conference in York.

"Somebody out there must know who this man is, so please, please come forward."

The man leading the hunt, Detective Superintendent Barry Honeysett, said the hit-and-run rider had been driving in an outrageous manner, which would shock other road users.

He said the rider had slowed down briefly after the second accident, but had then sped off.

"To my mind it is inconceivable that he was unaware he had been involved in an accident," he said.

Posters are being circulated throughout the area and the investigation team also plans to travel to the Croft Superbike meeting at the weekend in their attempts to identify the rider and his machine.

The B1257 is a notorious hot-spot for speeding bikers and is frequently targeted by police. They had been carrying out speed checks there earlier on the day of the tragedy.

The rogue rider - police believe it was a man - may have injuries to the left side of his body and the nearside of his machine is also likely to be damaged.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police, on 01845 6060 247.