MOTORCYCLE racer Jer Thomas, who died after a crash at Castle Combe Circuit, was larger than life and loved racing, according to one of his closest friends.

Mr Thomas, 48, from Radstock, had been taking part in the Grand National motorcycle meeting on Saturday at the circuit and was racing on his Kawasaki XZ10R in the Phoenix Open race.

Joe Symonds, a former motorcycle racer, has known Mr Thomas since 2004 and was at the race meeting supporting his son, Max, when the accident happened shortly after 4.24pm.

He said: “We were unsighted from the crash as we were at the other side of the circuit and the first I knew about anything was the commentator on the tannoy saying a rider had high-sided and there’s a few down.

“They red-flagged the race and Max came back onto the grid but Jer wasn’t there and we found out he had been injured.”

Mr Thomas was flown to Southmead Hospital in Bristol and taken to the intensive care unit while his wife, Abi, and daughters, 18-year-old Rebecca and 16-year-old Caitlin, who were not at the track when the accident happened, went to the hospital.

“I can’t recall how much time went by, possibly half an hour, before the doctor said he had a head injury which was non-survivable,” said Mr Symonds, 50, who went to the hospital with his wife, Corinna.

“We’re absolutely shattered, I’ve not experienced anything like it before.

“It don’t seem real initially, you bounce back and forth between devastation and not believing it.”

Mr Thomas had lived in Radstock his whole life and had founded JC Thomas Joinery more than 20 years ago, which will remain open for business, having studied an apprenticeship and worked out of his mum’s garden shed initially.

He had been with his wife Abi for 30 years and the couple were due to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary next year.

He began racing in 2004 and rode his first race at Castle Combe.

“He was a proper teaser. We were constantly ribbing each other. He’d been making really great improvements with his racing and was going really well this year,” added Mr Symonds.

“Castle Combe was one of his favourite circuits. It was the first place he started and is close to home so it always had a place in his heart.

“He loved doing it, he was larger than life when he was racing.”

All other races planned for Saturday were cancelled with the circuit issuing a statement which said: “NG Road Racing and Castle Combe Circuit deeply regret that Jer Thomas succumbed to his injuries overnight, following an accident at the Esses section at Castle Combe Circuit on Saturday, July 2, 2016.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with Abi, Rebecca, Caitlin and all family and friends. Further information will be released when available.”

Kevin Clayton, from Newport, who was also involved in the accident was treated for a broken hip, sprained ankle and bruises at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.