The Isle of Man TT claimed the life of reigning champion Dave Jefferies on this day in 2003. He was the first rider to lap the course at over 125 mph (201 km/h) and held the absolute lap record of 17 minutes 47 seconds, which he’d set the year before.
On a second practice lap aboard the TAS Racing Suzuki GSXR-1000 in 2003, Jefferies lost control, colliding with a wall and telegraph pole at over 150mph in the Crosby Village section of the course. It was reported at the subsequent inquest he’d hit a patch of oil that had gone unnoticed by the marshalls.
Something of a road racing specialist, Big Dave’s first TT outing had been in 1996 when he took a best finish of tenth in the Production race, also winning the Newcomers Trophy, and although he missed the 1997 event due to injury, he was back in 1998 taking four top-eight finishes with 4th in the Senior and a 120mph+ lap on a slick-shod R1 Yamaha.
His next three years at the TT were sensational, with hat-tricks recorded in 1999, 2000 and 2002 (the 2001 event was cancelled) for the V&M and TAS Suzuki teams.
Already a TT star he was set for legendary status ,but it wasn’t to be.
