When Hannah James fell in love with Shane Richardson, a talented British Superbikes rider, she likely hoped that their shared life—with kids and laughter—would be long and joyful.
But tragedy struck in the most painful way possible. And heartbreakingly, this wasn’t the first time she had experienced such a devastating loss on the racetrack.
Shane, just 29 years old, died in a catastrophic motorcycle crash during Monday’s race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.
Alongside him was 21-year-old Owen Jenner, who also lost his life in the same horrific pile-up.
The accident happened within seconds of the race’s start—just after the first turn—and involved a staggering 11 bikes.
A Race That Turned Into a Nightmare
The high-speed crash unfolded live on television as viewers watched in horror.
It started when one rider lost control coming out of Turn One, known as Old Hall Corner.
That one slip caused a terrifying chain reaction. Bikes slammed into each other, riders flew off, and one of the motorcycles even caught fire.
Medical teams rushed onto the track immediately.
The race was stopped, and soon after, the entire event was cancelled due to the seriousness of the situation.
A Girlfriend’s Grief Echoes the Past
Hannah James, who shared two young children with Shane, posted a heartbreaking tribute online, changing her profile picture to one of the two of them smiling with their kids.
But what makes her grief even more gut-wrenching is that she’s lived through this once before.
Back in 2016, Hannah lost her then-boyfriend Billy Redmayne, another motorbike racer.
Billy died after a crash during the Spring Cup at Oliver’s Mount in North Yorkshire.
Despite being airlifted to the hospital, his injuries were too severe, and he passed away surrounded by loved ones, including Hannah.
He was only 25.
In a twist of fate, Shane himself had posted a tribute photo years ago showing himself, Hannah, and Billy together.
He would go on to become Hannah’s partner, but now, she’s facing the unimaginable again—losing a second love to the same sport.
Official Response and Ongoing Investigation
Following Monday’s accident, both the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing released a joint statement.
They confirmed that the crash involved 11 riders and occurred just after the first turn of the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship race.
The statement read that due to the “extreme severity” of the crash, the rest of the racing event was called off.
They also confirmed that two riders, Shane and Owen, had died, and another had sustained significant injuries.
Authorities are now working closely with the coroner and Cheshire Police to investigate what exactly happened.
A police spokesperson added that they were looking into the crash on behalf of the coroner and confirmed the deaths of the two riders, while also noting the event’s cancellation due to the seriousness of the collision.
Shane’s Final Words Shared Online
Before the race, Shane had posted an update on Instagram, sharing his thoughts and excitement.
In a short video, he reflected on his recent sprint race and said, “Bad start, went backwards quite a few positions. But we managed to figure it out, get some good consistent pace going, matching the times with a few of the boys ahead of us. So yeah, looking forward to tomorrow…”
That “tomorrow” would never come.
The Risk That Lingers in Every Lap
Motorcycle racing is a sport of thrill, speed, and skill—but it comes with real risks.
For people like Shane and Owen, the track was a place of passion and performance.
For loved ones like Hannah, it’s now a place of profound loss—twice over.
As investigations continue, the motorsport community mourns two young lives lost too soon, and one woman’s story of love and loss reminds us of just how much is at stake behind the roar of every engine.
