Sadly, Dutch motorcyclist Edwin Straver died from injuries sustained in 2020 Dakar Rally.
Dutch motorcycle racer Edwin Straver died during the early hours of Friday morning, succumbing to injuries sustained in a fall in the Dakar Rally last week. The 48-year-old racer was seriously injured on January 16th, when he fell in the 11th and penultimate stage of the race, NOS reports.
Straver was resuscitated at the scene. It took emergency workers 10 minutes to get his heart beating again. He was rushed to a hospital in Riyadh, where examination showed that he had broken one of his upper neck vertebrae. He succumbed to his injuries earlier this morning.
This was Staver's third Dakar Rally. Last year he finished 30th in the general classification, and 49th the year before.
Straver is not the only life lost in the Dakar Rally this year. Portuguese motorcycle racer Paulo Gonçalves died on Sunday due to a cardiac arrest.
Motorcycle Hispania Rally was marred by death of one of participants, Alberto Martínez (42), today. Martínez suffered fatal accident during start of third stage which was cancelled following accident.
Yesterday, 7-time TT winner and 4-time Formula 2 TT world champion Tony Rutter, father to Michael, passed away after some period of poor health and illness.
I've never seen Tony Rutter racing but I've really enjoyed Michael Rutter's tribute to his dad at the 2017 Manx Grand Prix in both the classic lightweight and the classic superbike.
Farewell, Tony Rutter.
Ride in peace.
"Those who risk nothing, do nothing, achieve nothing, become nothing" - David Jefferies
Carlo Ubbiali was also multiple Dutch TT winner in both 125 and 250 classes.
125cc
Wins in '55, '56, '58, '59 and '60. In 1953 he finished second and third a year later. So on both layouts (16,5km and 7,7km) he was competitive.
250cc
Wins in 1956 and 1960. He finished second in 1958 and 1959.
Brian Redman: "Mr. Fangio, how do you come so fast?" "More throttle, less brakes...."
Sad news emerged from Donington today.
British Superstock 1000 rider Ben Godfrey has been killed in an incident during a No Limits trackday. Ben leaves his partner Jordan behind.
[link]https://www.bikesportnews.com/news/news ... y-has-died[/link]
Ride in peace
"Those who risk nothing, do nothing, achieve nothing, become nothing" - David Jefferies
Motor racing: 1967 Singapore Grand Prix champion Rodney Seow dies, aged 85
Pioneer racer remembered and lauded for his humble and helpful personality
SINGAPORE - Rodney Seow loved fast cars and the thrill of racing and made history by winning the 1967 Singapore Grand Prix but among his greatest traits was his humility.
The 85-year-old, who was a familiar and famous face in the local motor sports circuit, died on Friday (Aug 7). The Straits Times understands that his death was due to natural causes. He leaves behind his wife Evelyn, six children and eight grandchildren.
Fellow former race car driver William Lyou, who attended the wake on Saturday night, paid tribute to his friend and said one of his fondest memories was watching Seow triumph in 1967 at the old Thomson Road Circuit.
Seow's victory remains the last time a Singaporean has won the Singapore Grand Prix. The annual race was discontinued after 1973 before it returned as part of the Formula One World Championship in 2008 and shifted to the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Lyou, 72, said Seow was an inspiration to other local drivers. He added: "He was a good driver who was inspiring and down-to-earth. He was genuine and never boastful. I'm glad to have learnt all these attributes from him."
"Motor racing is a sport that you have to really put your dedication into to do well and that's what he did. Even after he stopped racing, he contributed to society as well," added Lyou, who quit racing in 1973.
After Seow stopped racing in 1968, he ran a car assembly plant in Johor, where he hired workers directly from trade school and developed their skills.
In an interview with Esquire Singapore in 2014, he said building the plant was his biggest accomplishment and was more important than anything he had achieved in his racing career.
Former Singapore Motor Sports Association (now known as Motor Sports Singapore) president Harold Netto was the chief course marshal at the 1967 race, where he watched Seow win.
"He's a very good driver as he could overtake people even along narrow roads in the circuit," said Netto, 79. "A lot of younger people used to go to him and ask how to get into racing.
"He's not someone who would chase them away. He used to sit down and give them advice."
In 2012, Seow attended an F1 event here alongside British star Lewis Hamilton, now a six-time world champion. The latter presented Seow with a customised Johnnie Walker race helmet, in recognition of Seow's contributions to Singapore's racing scene.
Hamilton said then:"I have a huge amount of respect for drivers like him. He raced during a 'dangerous' time, when there weren't the kind of safety measures there are now."
Veteran local race driver Ringo Chong, 53, offered his condolences to Seow's family and hailed Seow as "one of the racing greats in Singapore".
Chong, who met Seow once at a racing event, said: "(Rodney was) a very humble and quiet man like all true heroes from the earlier days.
"I have always respected drivers of that era. They were truly heroes."
I've just got the sad news that classic racing stalwart Jeff Ward, 56, succumbed to a heart attack he suffered 5 minutes after he got off his bike past a qualifying session to the Barry Sheene Classic at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough Friday night.
The pics below show Jeff on his way to win the 250 classic lightweight race at Billown, during the 2019 Pre TT Classic.
My heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends.
Ride in peace, Jeff
*pic source: my pics, pre TT Classics, Billown 2019
"Those who risk nothing, do nothing, achieve nothing, become nothing" - David Jefferies