Organisers of the Isle of Man TT Races say Japanese motorcyclist Yoshinari Matsushita was killed during Monday’s practice on the road course.

The British-based Auto Cycle Union issued a statement on the race website to confirm the 43-year-old Matsushita was killed in an accident at Ballacrye in the north of the island.

The practice session was immediately stopped.

The ACU said Matsushita was an experienced rider from Saitama, Japan, who won the 2008 Motegi Endurance race and first competed at the TT Races in 2009.

“Yoshi was a really popular competitor who had a large number of friends in the TT Races paddock,” ACU course spokesman Gary Thompson said.

“He was a genuine and friendly character who always had time for everyone. He will be sorely missed.”

A coronial investigation is underway.

Fatalities are common in the Isle of Man races, which are held on more than 60 kilometres of public roads around the island in the Irish Sea.