Paul Dobbs lost his life around the Isle of Man track last weekend. His grief stricken team, Hallett Aviation Racing, have decided to withdraw from all remaining competition for the 2010 season.
Dobbs died aboard a 600cc Suzuki supplied by Hallett Aviation Racing, after a crash at Ballagarey during the second Supersport race at the IOMTT. Team boss Neil Hallet said shortly after the incident that Hallett Aviation would be withdrawing from competition.
“After the incident in which Dobsy sadly lost his life whilst riding one of my 600 Gixers during last Thursday's Supersport race, Hallett racing will be withdrawing from all events, effective immediately. I have always said as a team owner that if any of our riders where to get hurt then I would stop the team racing and I am sticking exactly to that statement.”
“My sympathies are first and foremost with Bridget (Paul Dobbs' wife) and the girls, I hope they can come to terms with their great loss, I know Paul died doing what he loved best and I will pass on all the condolences we as a team have been sent.”
“Dobsy will be sadly missed from the paddocks, he was always a good laugh and although we had only helped him for two events this year we have been friends with him for many years.”
After the crash, fellow rider Paul Owen's abandoned the race to help marshals at the scene. Owen's was given the Spirit of the TT award for his selfless actions. There have been complaints that other riders did not slow down at the scene of the crash, despite the yellow flags. An investigation is pending.
“Paul Owen's actions during that race came as no surprise to me, all of the above riders would have done the same if they had been in the same situation, but I have huge respect for Paul and his actions that day and utter disgust for the riders who went through at race speed under waved yellows.”
“They know who they are and their huge egos will never let them realise what they did, but I do hope that someone in the organising group can bring some of these people to some kind of justice. It can't help Paul but it could stop an even bigger tragedy the next time there is a serious incident.”
