A TEENAGE motorcyclist who died in a road crash was not qualified to be riding such a powerful machine, an inquest has heard yesterday.Murrell Keys, 18, of Orford Road, Bromeswell, near Woodbridge, was killed when his 400cc Yamaha motorbike was involved in an accident at Station Road, Framlingham, on November 24 last year.

A TEENAGE motorcyclist who died in a road crash was not qualified to be riding such a powerful machine, an inquest has heard yesterday.

Murrell Keys, 18, of Orford Road, Bromeswell, near Woodbridge, was killed when his 400cc Yamaha motorbike was involved in an accident at Station Road, Framlingham, on November 24 last year.

At an inquest in Southwold yesterday, Lowestoft Coroner George Leguen de Lacroix, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Murrell's father, Stephen Keys, said his son had been interested in motorcycles since he was a young boy and described him as a "competent" rider.

Mr Keys said that a few days before the accident Murrell had taken a motorcycle test at Ipswich but had failed.

This meant that Murrell was not legally entitled to ride the 400cc Yamaha motorcycle he had recently purchased.

However, Murrell did take the motorcycle to ride from Bromeswell to Framlingham on the evening of Saturday, November 24.

Andrew Desborough, of Wilby Lane, Eye, told the inquest he was driving his people carrier along Station Road, Framlingham, when he suddenly heard a loud bang from the rear of his vehicle.

"I stopped my car and got out but at first I could not see what had caused the noise until I saw a motorcycle lying in the middle of the road," he said.

"I had not seen the motorcycle behind me at all and had no idea where it had come from," said Mr Desborough.

He said a bus had been travelling in the opposite direction along Station Road and the driver came running up to him asking where the rider was.

Other people stopped to help and Murrell was discovered under the bus.

Bus driver Paul Brown, of Newnham Avenue, Woodbridge, said he had been driving along Station Road and noticed the people carrier approaching him on the opposite side of the road.

"Suddenly a motorcycle pulled out from behind the people carrier and seemed to be overtaking. The rider was in the racing position when it appeared he lost control," said Mr Brown.

Mr Brown said he tried to take avoiding action by driving his bus on to the nearside pavement but there was a loud bang as the motorcycle struck his bus.

Mr Leguen de Lacroix said: "Although he was a keen motorcyclist he had little experience of riding a more powerful machine."