A 'talented’ TT star’s cause of death was ’death by misadventure’, an inquest heard.

Dan Kneen from Onchan was ’at the top of his sport’, the coroner of inquests said, when he crashed at Churchtown during a TT practice lap on May 30 last year.

The inquest into the professional motorcyclist’s death reopened today (Tuesday) at Douglas courthouse.

Reports on Mr Kneen’s Tyco BMW1000RR were provided to the coroner of inquests, John Needham, from the BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany.

This was following Mr Kneen’s father, Richard, questioning the absence of electronic data from the racer’s bike when the inquest opened in September.

Mr Needham told the court that this type of sport is ’inherently dangerous’ due to it being high speed.

’TT deaths are recorded as "deaths by misadventure",’ he explained.

’He was a very, very talented motorcyclist who was at the top of his sport, but there is nothing that I can say that will be of any consolation to the family.’

He added that from the evidence Mr Kneen junior ’would not have been conscious’ following impact, but ’would’ve died instantly’.

The court heard Mr Kneen, who was riding the number 8 bike, left the grandstand at around 6.20pm. He was ahead of Dean Harrison by about half a second when he reached Churchtown.

Marshals present in the area said they thought Mr Kneen’s bike seemed too far to the left-hand side of the road than the others.

His front wheel lost traction causing it to slide. The bike collided into a tree and caught fire with Mr Kneen ending up in the Ramsey-bound carriageway.

Full report in the Manx Independent, which comes out on Thursday.