A YORK motorcyclist whose life was a "whirlwind" died on a country lane when he collided head-on with an oncoming car, an inquest has heard.

Peter Orange, 23, of Rosedale Avenue, was riding a friend's motorcycle on the Malton to Buttercrambe road on July 7 this year.

He had just overtaken two learner motorcyclists and their instructor when he hit the oncoming Citroen being driven by Gwen Johnson. Mrs Johnson, from York, told the inquest at Pickering: "I just did not have time to do anything, the bike was too near."

Mr Orange, who lived a life packed with sport and excitement, according to his mother, Joan, had overtaken the three motorcycles just before the brow of a hill at Gally Gap crossroads.

He collided with Mrs Johnson's vehicle as she drove up the hill towards Buttercrambe.

Motorcycle instructor Graham Willis said he did not think Mr Orange had passed him at excessive speed.

He said he remembered seeing the blue and white Suzuki in his mirror and warned the two learner riders on a one-way radio.

Mr Willis said: "I saw a motorcyclist coming up behind us, probably doing maybe 65 or 70 miles an hour. The rider appeared to be quite confident."

But as Mr Willis rode over the hill he saw smoke rising up and debris from the bike lying in the road.

Mr Orange, whose crash helmet was dislodged by the force of the crash, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 5pm.

A post-mortem examination showed he died of multiple injuries to the brain stem, lungs, liver and spleen.

Mr Orange had borrowed a friend's motorcycle to check on his own machine in for repair at a Malton garage.

Traffic police officer David Foster said tests on the 1100cc motorcycle showed both tyres were under-inflated.

He told the inquest that tyre pressure on motorcycles was critical, and that Mr Orange may not have known of the under-inflation or the problems it could cause.

Coroner Michael Oakley said Mr Orange had lost control of the bike and was unable to avoid hitting the approaching car. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Updated: 15:50 Thursday, November 29, 2001