David Jefferies, "was the equivalent of Schumacher in Grand Prix, he was certainly the best at this year's TT. He was smooth, safe and would never be out of control. His death was unexpected." So says Paul Philips, editor of RealRoadRacing.com.
Jefferies who died during a practice session for the Isle of Man TT last Thursday, had been the favourite to pick up all three titles at this year's races. His 1,000cc Suzuki motorcycle lost control at the second lap near the village of Crosby where he sustained fatal injuries. The tragic loss cast a dark shadow over the event.
"There's a sombre atmosphere here at the Isle of man," according to fellow racer, Martin Finnegan.
The fastest TT racer, Jefferies set the fastest lap in history at last year's TT, at 17min 47sec with an average speed of 127.29mph over the 37.73 mile road road circuit. He was also the first racer to complete a TT hat-trick with three wins in three consecutive years and was the first to lap the Isle of Man at 125mph.
In an interview on the TT website, www.ttwebsite.com, Jefferies said of his achievement: "I never set out to do 125mph, but it's nice to be the first person to do it and stuff but it wasn't my ultimate goal in the race."
The 30-year-old Yorkshire man started at the tender age of seven in Trials on a Yamaha TY80. He began road racing in 1990 on a Yamaha FZR 600 at 18 years of age.
David came from a uniquely strong motorcycling background. His dad Tony raced on the Isle of Man between 1969 and 1973, winning three TTs; the 1971 Formula 750 and Junior plus the 1973 Production 750cc Races. His grandfather Nick won the Manx Two Day Trial in 1976, the Senior Manx Grand Prix in 1983 and the Formula One TT in 1993. His great-grandfather Allan rode in the TT between 1947 and 1949 gaining two 2nd places.
Philip Neil, manager of Jefferies' TAS Suzuki team expressed the general mood of loss. "Not only had David become a very close personal friend of the whole team, but he was a fantastic motorcycle rider and a real ambassador for our sport."
One fan who left a note on the message board of Jefferies' website quoted him as once saying: "To succeed on the island, you have to be totally at ease with yourself, know exactly what you're doing, and accept that you might be going home in a box."