A motorcyclist who witnessed a fatal crash told a trial this week that he only narrowly avoided losing his own life.

Tony Barkas was giving evidence at the trial of Dr Philip Windrum, who is accused of causing the death of Kevin Baker by careless driving.

Retired police officer Mr Baker died after his motorbike collided with a car on the A3 between Handley’s Corner and Barregarrow crossroads in the area of Ballaskyr Farm in Michael on June 4 last year.

Mr Baker, 69, was treated for his injuries by the public and paramedics at the scene.

He was airlifted to Noble’s Hospital but died later.

Mr Windrum, of Dundonald, Northern Ireland, denies causing death by careless driving.

Witness Mr Barkas told Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at the summary court trial that he had been watching the racing at Handley’s Corner and turned right towards Kirk Michael after the roads open car went past.

His Honda Fireblade sports bike was behind Mr Baker’s bike which he said ’went off pretty quickly’ from Handley’s.

There was no other traffic on the road in front in either direction.

Mr Barkas said he was travelling at the speed limit and throttled off to about 45mph for the crest of the hill. This section of road is unrestricted but has a 60mph limit during the TT.

He said they maintained a gap of about six bike lengths between his machine and the blue motorcycle in front, which was slightly to his left.

As he came over the crest he said he saw the trees were casting shadows on the left of the road and then he became aware of a car turning into the road.

The witness said he saw the car’s front bumper in the middle of the road.

He told the court: ’Mr Baker went for his brakes. It was a last-second thing.

’He had two to three seconds to react, that’s all he had.’

Mr Barkas said he had braked hard using his front brakes and went for the gap in front of the car.

But he was injured by Mr Baker’s bike,which went up as it braked and veered to the right, hitting him on the chest and knocking him to the ground.

He said: ’It happened so quickly.

’I was riding at a safe speed, six bike lengths behind. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t.’

Advocate Winston Taylor, defending Windrum, put it to the witness that he had been travelling at speed. ’You were racing each other and the roads open car, or both,’ he said.

’That’s false - otherwise I would not be standing here talking to you,’ Mr Barkas said.

’He had very little time, very little, to react. I had a little bit longer - otherwise I would have joined him in a coffin.’

Max Crowe, who has also been watching the Superbike racing from Handley’s, was driving home in his Mazda MX5 behind the two bikes and saw the crash.

He told the court that a blue vehicle had proceeded to pull out into the road as if it was going to turn right.

Mr Crowe said the first motorcycle had swerved right but could not avoid the collision with the driver’s door.

He said he believed the car was stationary when the impact took place.

He said there was no more than three seconds between the time he first saw the blue car and when the impact took place.

The trial continues.