A 25-year-old motorcyclist from Hitchin suffered serious injuries and had to be airlifted to hospital after he crashed during a race at Brands Hatch.

James Puttrell was involved in an incident with another rider, Jordy de Jong from the Netherlands, at the Kent circuit at around 2.40pm yesterday.

Both men fell from their bikes on the first lap of the National Superstock 600 race, part of the British Superbike Championship. It is believed they were trying to avoid other riders who had come off their machines.

The race was stopped immediately and both men were treated trackside by the medical team, before Mr Puttrell was flown by air ambulance to St George’s Hospital in London.

Mr Puttrell’s injuries included serious head, chest and limb injuries.

Mr de Jong, 27, suffered a serious head injury, an ambulance spokesman said.