Father-son duo Roger and Bradley Stockton have become the fourth and fifth racers to be killed at this year’s the Isle of Man TT Races.
Roger, 56, and his son Bradley, 21, were competing in their fifth season together, having become regular winners in the industry.
The pair, from Crewe, Cheshire, were on the second and final lap of the second Sidecar Race of the 2022 races - just under one mile into the lap – when the incident occurred.
Confirming the Stocktons’ tragic death, a statement from the Isle of Man TT Races said: “With a deep sense of sorrow, the Isle of Man TT Races can confirm that Roger Stockton, 56, and Bradley Stockton, 21, from Crewe, Cheshire were both killed in an incident on the second and final lap of the second Sidecar Race of the 2022 Isle of Man TT Races. The incident occurred at Ago’s Leap, just under one mile into the lap.
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“Roger and Bradley were father and son, and driver and passenger respectively.
“Roger was an experienced TT competitor, with today’s race marking his 20th TT race start. He competed at the TT regularly from 2000 to 2008, before then returning in 2010, 2017 and at this year’s event. In his career, he claimed a total of twelve top-20 finishes and four top-10 finishes, as well as 10 Bronze Replicas.”
The statement explained how Bradley was a newcomer to the TT, and had finished his first TT race on Monday – securing an ‘impressive 8th-place finish’ alongside his father.
It continued: “2022 was their fifth season racing together, and Roger and Bradley were regular podium finishers and frontrunners in the British F2 Sidecar Cup Championship, finishing second in the championship in 2021.
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“The Isle of Man TT Races pass on their deepest sympathy to Roger and Bradley’s families, loved ones, and friends.”
The news follows the death of sidecar driver Cesar Chanel, who was killed last Saturday after Davy Morgan and Mark Purslow died at the event in the last fortnight.
ABP Motorsport, where Bradley had worked, also issued a statement to pay tribute to the young star, saying: “The whole ABP family are absolutely devastated to share the news that ‘our Brad’ has sadly lost his life during today’s TT sidecar race.
“Following an accident on the 2nd lap both Brad and his dad Roger have sadly passed away.
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“Brad was just 21 and was taking part in a sport that he loved - he was funny, brave, annoying, loved, brilliant, handsome and had his whole life ahead of him.”
The ABP team said Bradley had left them yesterday alongside his father ‘pursuing a dream, a passion that brought both glory & danger’.
They added: “We all loved Brad and today has been one of the hardest days for me and ABP, we are a very close family and we now have a huge gaping devastating hole in our hearts.
“Fly high Bradley, ride fast and we all pray that you have gone to a better place. Gone but never ever forgotten.”
Jess Hardiman