RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN - JUNE 05: The town of Ramsey catches the evening light in the distance as a competitor rides during a practice session on June 5, 2009 on the Isle Of Man, United Kingdom. Adverse weather conditions prevented the much anticipated Superbike race from taking place on Saturday and, depending on the rain, may be off all weekend. The annual TT race is one of the highlights of the motorbike racing calender with fans travelling from around the globe to watch riders compete in the 37 and three quarter mile lap exceeding speeds of 200mph. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)[/caption]
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Isle of Man TT organisers said on Wednesday they had misidentified a French sidecar racer who died in a crash at the weekend.
Passenger Olivier Lavorel was named last Saturday as the dead man but organisers said he had been confused with compatriot Cesar Chanal.
"An initial identification procedure was conducted using established procedures and would appear to have resulted in a mistaken identification," they said in a statement.
"We now believe it was Cesar Chanal who died at the scene of the accident on Saturday 4th June. Olivier remains in a critical condition and continues to receive treatment.
"Both competitors’ families have been informed."
Organisers said they would be carrying out "a thorough review of the processes relating to the identification of competitors".
Three riders have died competing in this year's TT races held on public roads around the island off the north-west coast of England.
British Supersport rider Mark Purslow (29) died in qualifying last Wednesday and Northern Irish veteran Davy Morgan (52) was killed on Monday.
The event has been run since 1907 and ranks among the most dangerous in motorsport, with 263 deaths so far in the TT races, Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT.
