TWO motorcyclists were spotted repeatedly passing each other at high speed seconds before one of them hit a tree, an inquest was told yesterday.

As 36-year-old Neil Eyles lay on the road, the other rider, Peter Wood, rode off with a third motorcyclist.

After hearing from two independent witnesses and the third rider Edward Plumpton, coroner Geoff Fell adjourned the hearing so Mr Wood, said to be on holiday in Ireland, could be summoned to attend.

Mr Plumpton said the trio left the market square in Ripon, North Yorkshire, together but he had gone ahead before the accident happened on the approach to traffic lights in the town's Harrogate Road.

He stopped at the lights and turned round to see Mr Eyles' powerful Yamaha R1 motorcycle lying in the middle of the road.

Mr Plumpton said Mr Wood was 50 or 100 yards down the road. "When I got back I spoke to Mr Wood and then we rode off," he said.

Gordon Smith told the Harrogate inquest that he saw both machines approaching him.

"They were going so fast that I slowed down and pulled in. The engines were roaring. They were dicing with each other, line abreast, going fast. I was apprehensive. They passed by and I heard the crash," he added.

Motorist Patrick Whitehead said after Mr Eyles, of Elmwood Street, Harrogate, crashed, he saw the other two riders talking at the traffic lights. He said Mr Plumpton returned to the accident scene, spoke with people there and rode off. Mr Wood accompanied him.

The coroner told Mr Plumpton: "There is a conflict of evidence here. I don't think we are going to make any progress at all without Mr Wood being here.