A 35-year-old man has died after he lost control of the bike he was riding and crashed, the police said Tuesday.

The victim was identified later in the day as Shaun Coppola.

The motorcyclist died upon impact on the St Paul's Bay by-pass after he lost control of his Suzuki motorcycle. 

The accident took place at 12.30pm as the biker was travelling towards Xemxija.

The police said the biker crashed into the barriers on the side of the road.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia is leading an inquiry.

The St Paul's Bay by-pass was closed to traffic in both directions, and was re-opened in the late afternoon.

This is the sixth road fatality of the year.