A MUCH-loved Southamp-on motorcyclist was killed while speeding and with amphetamines in his system, an inquest heard.

Steve Dawson, 54, died after his blue Kawasaki bike collided with a grey Vauxhall Astra in Shirley Road.

Police told the inquest how the Astra began turning into Court Road but stopped when driver Alex Mair saw the motorcycle approaching.

Mr Dawson, a grandfather of Waterhouse Lane, Shirley, lost control of the bike after braking sharply, causing the front wheel to lock, the bike to turn on its side and hit the car.

Influence PC Michael Gunby, accident investigator, said: “The motorcycle was being driven at 46mph in a 30mph speed limit so it would have been in the car driver’s view from about 35 metres away or 1.7 seconds.

“The amount of braking applied by the rider may have been influenced by the amphetamines in his system.”

He added: “It looks as though there would have been room to go around the vehicle and I suppose if he had eased off his speed it would have made it a lot easier.”

Post-mortem tests also revealed alcohol in Mr Dawson’s system but below the legal driving limit.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Keith Wiseman said: “No one was doing anything exceptionally wrong that took it way beyond the pale.

“It was just an interaction between two vehicles which had tragic consequences.

“Mr Dawson had an ill wife at the time and it has been an extremely difficult time for everybody.

Well-handled “I understand Mr Dawson was a very popular and well-known figure and very experienced and I think what happened was unexpected and tragic for all concerned.”

Sgt Richard Grant, who originally investigated the incident in May, confirmed Mr Mair had not been prosecuted.

After the inquest, Mr Dawson’s friend Don Guthrie, known as Gus, said the family was pleased they had closure.

He said: “The way the police and everyone handled this has been fantastic.

“It’s closure for the family and I hope the driver has a happy Christmas and we wish him all the best.

“We are very happy he is not getting prosecuted as we would not want that.”

Mr Dawson, an oil quality tester at Fawley refinery, attended the former Hightown School in Southampton before starting a career working on ships and visiting various countries around the world.

He was a motorcycle enthusiast and would often ride around the New Forest at weekends.

More than 30 bikers from across the country paid tribute to him by forming a funeral procession in June.