The 28-year-old was leading the race on lap three when he high-sided his 600cc racer on the exit from the "bus stop" on to the main straight at the Symmons Plains track.

Two riders in the middle of the pack were unable to avoid Greedy and his bike.

One of the bikes exploded on impact, with the heat of the resulting fireball reaching spectators beside the track.

Greedy was treated by medical personnel but died at the scene.

A second rider was taken to Launceston Hospital, while the third rider escaped serious injury.

Newcastle motorcycle dealer Graeme Boyd was one of many who paid tribute to Greedy last night.

"He was such a lovely kid," he said.

"He grew up here riding dirt-track bikes and motocross before moving on to road racing.

"He was destined to win the Australian championship this year."

Although based on the Gold Coast, Greedy stayed in regular contact with his family and the Hunter's motorcycling community.

Internet blogs were full of messages of condolence as news of Greedy's death spread.

Reigning Australian Superbike champion Glenn Allerton, who qualified on pole for the later Superbike race, did not blame the circuit for the incident.

"That part of the track is quite challenging as you're trying to get hard on the throttle for the run down the straight," he said.

"If you're in a group of riders then you don't get much time to react if there's an incident in front of you."

A meeting of riders contesting all five national championship classes at the Symmons Plains round was called by senior race officials and Motorcycling Australia, with clerk of the course Tom Williams agreeing to abandon the meeting following a rider vote.

A major upgrade to the circuit about three years ago included the introduction of the bus stop that slows a rider's entry onto the front straight.

The upgrade saw the track reach Motorcycling Australia standards.

Greedy was the first motorcycle racer to die at the circuit for about 10 years and the fourth in the circuit's 50-year history.