WORLD Superbike champion Carl Fogarty today spoke of his horror on learning close friend Mick Lofthouse had been killed while practising for the TT races.
Carl, who lives in Tockholes, Blackburn, heard the news shortly after arriving at Heathrow Airport from a trip to Japan.
And he revealed how the death has prompted him to abandon a trip to the Isle of Man towards the end of the race series.
He said: "The news made me feel sick.
"I knew Mick really well through racing and spoke to him the day before he left. He wanted to borrow my gloves.
"People find it hard to understand, but Mick loved the TT. It's what he wanted to do."
The 28-year-old professional biker, of Dudley Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, died after losing control of his 250cc Yamaha.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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