A YOUNG motorcyclist who died in a collision with a lorry was estimated to have been riding at up to 100mph minutes before the crash, an inquest heard.

Chef Joshua Jake Duxbury, 21, died as he was travelling from his home in Blackburn on the A59 to Harrogate to work at his mother’s Route 59 cafe at about 8.25am on October 8, 2016.

A witness statement from a lorry driver who was overtaken by former Witton Park Academy pupil Mr Duxbury a few minutes before the collision put his speed then at “up to 100mph.”

A toxicology report had indicated there was cannabis in the rider’s bloodstream, said senior coroner Rob Turnbull at the inquest in Skipton.

Mr Duxbury, who was from the Oakhill area of Blackburn and studied to be a chef at Accrington and Rossendale College, rode in to a loaded lorry and trailer that was turning on to the A59 from the Skibeden metal fabrication workshops, just over a kilometre from the junction of the A59 and A65.

Moped rider Matthew Fisher told the inquest he was travelling to work when he was overtaken by Mr Duxbury, who was “going so fast it made me jump.”

He tried to perform CPR but was hampered because he could not get off Mr Duxbury’s helmet.

North Yorkshire Police collision investigation office Steve Gardner said that there was a 60mph speed limit at that point and visibility was ‘reasonably good’.

Mr Duxbury’s mother Audrey Duxbury told the inquest that her son had ridden motorcycles since the age of seven and was very experienced.

He was first taught by Andy Bradley, who runs Rocket Centre Motorcycle Training at the Trident Centre in Blackburn. He had been using cannabis on medical advice to deal with sleeplessness and severe night terrors, she said.

She also thanked Mr Fisher for his efforts to save her son’s life.

Coroner Mr Turnbull said that it seemed death had been instantaneous, and added: “He did not slow down. Why we don’t know. It is a very sad loss.”

Paying tribute to Joshua before the inquest, his uncle Neil Duxbury said: “Josh was a truly outstanding young lad. His passion was always bikes, as is the rest of his family, and we often travelled to events such as the Isle of Man TT races. He was charismatic, friendly and a credit to our family.

“He will be missed forever by all of us.”