A MOTORCYCLIST who told friends he had gone to "rip up" the road was involved in a fatal accident, an inquest heard.

Champion Thai boxer Lee Smith, 33, of Newton Aycliffe, died after he lost control of his Suzuki 750cc bike at a roundabout near Aycliffe Industrial Estate on June 3, 2007.

Friend Peter Steed said they had spent the day biking and were heading home when Mr Smith made the snap last minute decision to go back out.

Mr Steed said: "We were supposed to be going back home to put the bikes in the garage but Lee said he wanted to let his bike have a ripping.

"I told him I'd catch him up later."

PC Kevin Kitson from the Accident Investigation Unit said: "Mr Smith was travelling at an excessive speed and breaking at the roundabout caused the bike to destabilise."

Durham County Coroner Andrew Tweddle recorded an accidental death at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court.

Lee Smith was well-known and respected for his Thai boxing career in which he secured three British titles and was fourth in the world championships.

His former club King's Cobra has held memorial tournaments and a Lee Smith Trust has been established to support Thai boxing in the region.