A MOTORCYCLIST died after losing control of his bike while performing a 'wheelie', an inquest heard.

Michael Mok lost control of his blue Suzuki GSX-R600 motorbike while riding it in Frederick Street, Farnworth, and crashed it into a tree on the corner of Westwood Close on the afternoon of Sunday July 27.

Mr Mok, aged 42, of Dyson Close, Farnworth, suffered head, chest and neck injuries as a result of the crash and died at the scene.

The term used to describe his crash was a ‘tank slapper’, which is when the front wheel starts to bounce and the back wheels go from lock to lock.

The inquest heard from his long-term friend and fellow motorcycle enthusiast John Helm that Mr Mok had performed four wheelies while Mr Helm took pictures on a mobile phone.

Mr Helm said that, on the fifth attempt at a wheelie, Mr Mok lost control of his bike and went up in the air, which is when he became detached from the bike.

Mr Helm told the court that he had said to Mr Mok that he was ‘very silly’ doing wheelies and that he was not happy with Mr Mok performing them.

Prior to Mr Mok’s death, he and Mr Helm had ridden their motorbikes to Clitheroe and Kirkby Lonsdale, before returning to Mr Mok’s home, to spend the afternoon with his brother Hank and his wife.

The group sat in the garden before Mr Mok went outside with Mr Helm.

Mr Mok’s brother, who left the court in visible distress after giving evidence, said: “I made a cup of tea, took it out to the garden and that was it.

“I heard Michael go out on his motorbike and I could hear the bike outside, but I didn’t think anything of it.”

Fergus Connelly, a witness of the crash who was on his way to The Black Horse pub in Higher Market Street, told the court that he saw the front of Mr Mok’s bike at a 40 degree angle in the air.

Mr Connelly said that, when Mr Mok brought the front of his bike back down, the back wheel started wobbling, causing him to mount a kerb and crash.

Area coroner Alan Walsh, who recorded a verdict of misadventure, said: “I believe that the wheelies caused Mr Mok to control of his bike, which led to his death.

“It’s important to warn anyone who has a motorcycle that wheelies should never be embarked upon as a manoeuvre.”

Mr Mok was born in Laos and moved to Bolton with his family, aged five.

He was a single man and leaves behind seven brothers.