A BIKER who died after another rider did a U-turn in front of him on the Isle of Man TT course had no chance of avoiding a collision, a court heard yesterday.

Kevin Lynn, a 44-year-old father-of- two from Hartlepool, was killed instantly in the crash last June.

The other rider, 31-year-old Seamus Grieney, of County Limerick, in the Republic of Ireland, is facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. He denied the offence when the trial opened in Douglas.

Manx Government prosecutor Alistair Montgomery said the accident happened on June 2 as Mr Lynn, a caretaker at Throston Grange Primary School, Hartlepool, was riding down the 37-mile mountain course with two friends.

Mr Montgomery described Mr Lynn as a "very experienced rider who rode very sensibly".

Mr Grieney, he alleged, had been riding up and down a 600-metre section of the course, just prior to the crash, "showing off" to the roadside crowds.

He would firstly ride down the road on just the rear wheel of his Yamaha, pulling a wheelie. He would then perform "stoppies" putting the bike up on its front wheel, said Mr Montgomery.

He said that as Mr Lynn and his friends came on the area they saw the Yamaha ahead indicating it was pulling in to the right.

"Suddenly, and without warning, it pulled to the left and attempted to make a U-turn," said Mr Montgomery.

"The inevitable happened. Kevin Lynn collided and was thrown off. He slid down the road at speed and was hit by a bike being ridden in the opposite direction.

"Mr Lynn was killed instantly."

When interviewed by police, Mr Grieney claimed he had looked over his shoulder and in his mirror.

The case continues