A MOTORCYCLIST died and another was ill in hospital today after their machines collided on a road between York and Selby.

The dead man, who was believed to be local, was riding his blue Honda X11 on the B1222 three quarters of a mile west from Naburn Lane, towards Cawood at 4.20pm yesterday when he collided head-on with a bronze Suzuki TSXR which was going round a left-hand bend and travelling in the opposite direction.

He was flung into the road and died instantly. The rider of the Suzuki was thrown into a nearby field and later taken to York Hospital with a broken left leg.

Their crumpled machines crashed into grass verges and debris was strewn across the road.

The death brings to 11 the total of bikers who have been killed while riding in the county this year.

Sergeant Mick Corme, of the central road policing group, said he would like to speak to anyone who saw the accident, including a group of motorcyclists riding nearby.

He urged bikers to take care when out and about on the county's roads.

"On Sundays we pay particular attention to motorcyclists that visit the roads in North Yorkshire and want to enjoy themselves," said Sgt Corme.

"We would like them all to leave safely."

Anyone with information should phone York Police on 01904 669884.

A woman pillion rider had a lucky escape when she came off a motorbike on the A64 between York and Malton.

Julie Edwards, 49, from Manchester, injured her arm when she came off the back of a Kawasaki ZX9R motorbike at around 6.15pm yesterday on the A64 near Barton-le-Willows. She was treated at York Hospital.

Updated: 10:36 Monday, August 02, 2004