Experienced motorcyclist died after collision on country road near Winchester, inquest hears

Jonathan Geoffrey Gates, 54, of Maple Drive, Kings Worthy, died on Morestead Road on October 9.

Mr Gates was on his Ducati motorbike near the Southern Water treatment facility when he collided with a Citroen, driven by Margaret Kerton, just before 2pm.

An inquest in Winchester on May 17 heard that he lost control of his bike and was calculated to have been travelling between 98 and 107mph, as captured on CCTV by the Southern Water facility.

READ MORE: What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

A statement was read out by senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson, on behalf of Mr Gates' wife, Michaela Gates.

It said: “He had been riding bikes for 20 years so he was very experienced. He had ridden on tracks until about 10 years ago when he started to ride on roads more.

“He had a motorbike collision in 2017 which caused some anxiety.”

Morestead Road

The statement said that the Ducati had been purchased in May 2021 and that he had ridden it three times before the collision.

Mrs Gates added that he had been planning to sell the bike. Also that his riding style was 'fast and hard', but he wouldn't put anyone else in danger.

A statement was read out on behalf of Ms Kerton, the driver of the Citroen. It said that she was travelling to Alresford and that it was a clear, dry day.

She estimated she was travelling at 40mph when she saw the bike coming towards her and collided. She suffered injuries including a broken nose and bruised ribs.

The inquest heard that the post mortem, by consultant pathologist Balvinder Shoker said the cause of death was multiple injuries as a result of a vehicle collision. There were no other contributing factors.

Simon Maxwell Brookes, from Hampshire Constabulary, said the collision occurred on the northbound side of the road, near to the junction with the A31.

Mr Brookes said that at the time of the collision, the sun would have been low, which may have affected visibility.

Mr Wilkinson said: “Mr Gates was an experienced rider.

"When he approached the bend, he lost control and slid into the path on the oncoming vehicle.

“It was unexpected and unintentional.”

Mr Wilkinson recorded the cause of death as being a due to a road traffic collision.

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