A high-powered motorcycle involved in a fatal crash which killed its 26-year-old rider had been stolen, police have confirmed.
Luke Gibbs died when he lost control of the bike in Belton Road, Loughborough, in the early hours of Sunday.
The father, who lived in the town, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, who were called to the scene by a member of the public.
An investigation into the circumstances of the accident is continuing.
A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the motorcycle had been stolen.
"However, we cannot confirm the man who died in the fatal collision was responsible for stealing the bike.
"That is part of our ongoing investigation."
The machine involved in the crash was a yellow, limited- edition Suzuki GSXR 600cc Supersport race bike, one of only 1,500 made.
It belonged to a 22-year-old factory worker, from Sileby, who contacted the Mercury about the theft. Mr Weir, who did not want us to print his first name, said the bike cost him £2,620.
He said he had bought it in April after saving for two years.
"I was staying at my girlfriend's house in Loughborough on Saturday night," he said. "My bike was parked outside with a steering lock and heavy steel chain.
"The first I knew about it being stolen was when my girlfriend went downstairs to make a drink and looked out of the window.
"She came flying up the stairs screaming the bike had gone.
"I checked for myself and couldn't believe it.
"They must have used a bolt-cutter on the chain and there was a heavy iron bar nearby which could have been used to break the steering lock."
Mr Weir did not learn of the fatal accident until he received a panicked call from his mother.
"When I checked my phone I had loads of missed calls from my mum. I rang her back and she was absolutely hysterical," he said.
"The police had been round to my home at about 5.40am. They were really cagey with her, asking things like what did my bike look like and if she could describe me.
"As you can imagine, she put two and two together and thought I'd had an accident and was either unconscious or dead. She feared the worst.
"It absolutely terrified her. She was beside herself with panic."
Mr Weir said he was shocked to find out someone had been killed on his bike.
"It's a tragedy," he said. "I've been racking my brain, thinking could I have done anything make my bike more secure?
"If I had, I'd have my bike and this lad would have his life."
A police spokeswoman confirmed that as part of the force's initial attempts to identify the rider, officers visited the address of the registered keeper of the vehicle.
The crash happened at the junction with Ratcliffe Road and Meadow Lane at 4.50am.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.
