A MOTORCYLIST has died in hospital after a multiple pile-up during a national bike competition at Brands Hatch, near West Kingsdown.

Darren Mitchell, 31, was riding his SM Racing Suzuki GSXR when the accident happened in wet conditions on the first lap of the Superstock Championship race, the penultimate event of the day.

Mr Mitchell, from Huddersfield in Yorkshire, was airlifted to Maidstone Hospital where he died.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is being held. Several other riders were injured in the incident.

Jamie Morley, from Waterlooville in Hampshire, was airlifted to a London Hospital, where he is receiving treatment for his injuries. The other injured riders were taken by road ambulance to appropriate local hospitals.

Mark Heckles, from Liverpool, sustained a broken leg and was taken to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup; Dean Johnson, from Coalville, also suffered a broken leg and was taken to Darenth Valley Hospital in Dartford; Belgian rider Paul Mooijan was transferred to Darenth Valley Hospital and was kept in overnight for observation after sustaining a minor head injury.

Two other riders, Matt Layt and Steve Thompson, rode through the scene and stopped but were uninjured.

In a statement, MotorSport Vision, owners of the Brands Hatch circuit, said the accident, happened at about 4.55pm on Sunday on the long straight from Pilgrims Drop to Hawthorns Hill.

Mr Mitchell received treatment at the scene by medical staff from the organising club, the MCRCB, and Brands Hatch.

MotorSport Vision managing director Jonathan Palmer said: "This has been a black day for the Superstock series. I am so terribly sorry, particularly for the family and friends of Darren Mitchell to whom I extend my deepest sympathies.

“I understand Darren was an immensely popular rider and was the victim of a freak accident.

“Having been in Race Control immediately after the accident, I would like to pay tribute to the outstanding professionalism of Stuart Higgs, race director of MCRCB and Dr Paul Trafford, chief medical officer, and their respective teams. This was a simply dreadful, extensive, accident that must have been enormously demanding to manage.”