Image caption Daley Mathison had finished on the TT podium on three occasions

A motorcyclist has died after crashing during the opening race of the 2019 Isle of Man TT, the race organiser has confirmed.

Daley Mathison, from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, crashed at Snugborough, near Union Mills, on his third lap of the four-lap Superbike race.

A spokesman for ACU Events Ltd said he was an "experienced competitor".

Paying tribute on Twitter, his wife Natalie said he had been " so happy with life and so proud of his racing ".

The 27-year-old was making his 19th TT start, having previously achieved three podium finishes.

The Penz13.com rider was a regular at the North West 200 and a former Ulster Grand Prix winner, having claimed victory in the 2014 Ultra-lightweight race.

Mrs Mathison wrote that the "last image I saw of my husband was of a man so happy with life and so proud of his racing".

She said he was "now sleeping with the fairies", adding: "That's all I can bring myself to say right now."

Peter Hickman was declared the winner of Monday's race after it was stopped following the incident.