Posted on 11/16/2013 5:49:13 PM PST by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Motocross star Kurt Caselli has died following an off-road racing accident in Mexico’s Baja California.
SCORE International says Caselli died Friday following injuries sustained during a late-race accident.
KNX 1070′s Megan Goldsby says the 30-year-old from Palmdale was leading the iconic 46th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 at the time of the crash. The accident happened around 4:30 p.m. after Caselli apparently lost control at approximate race-mile 792.
“Our desert racing family has lost a very special person in Kurt,” commented SCORE President Roger Norman. “Kurt was a superb racer and this is a tragedy that affects us all. We extend our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Caselli family. Their loss is immeasurable and we grieve with them.”
Caselli was one of the most popular and well-respected riders in off-road racing.
“Hugely shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Kurt Caselli as the result of a crash while riding in the Baja 1000,” Caselli’s KTM team said in a statement posted on Facebook. “A huge loss to his family, team and to our sport. Kurt was a wonderful competitor and an all round top guy.”
Calls placed to independently confirm reports of Caselli’s death have not immediately been returned.
Mexicans set booby trap on course:
Unbelievable!
I hope this is the LAST time Americans go there to race.
30 years old. That doesn’t sound as old as it once did.
It’s always been a wild and wooly deal down there.
Far more potential for getting maimed than in closed course racing.
Many incidents of robbery by “banditos” too.
Huh? Why shouldn’t Americans participate?
I like Americans. I hate to see them killed by foreigners.
Ya, these stupid ignorant SOBs were known to dig pits and cover them along the course....
Ya don't need Mexico to run an off road race....We should be doing it right here.
I would not go down there for any race or anything else...
That’s really unfortunate. Off course he should be identified as an “off-road” racing star, not motocross.
Me either, but the Baja 1000 is iconic, having been run since the 60s. The crazy guys who race it are total diehards for sure.
RIP.
And our politicians refuse to secure the border.
So Americans have never died in racing accidents outside the U.S. before? Why is it OK for them to die here, then?
FWIW, updates have something different:
http://jalopnik.com/kurt-caselli-not-killed-by-booby-trapped-course-compet-1465895717
UPDATE: KTM, Caselli's racing team, has finally come out with a statement, explaining that the crash was caused by a collision with a small animal. The full statement is below:--[my snip]--
The team, who have now recovered Kurt's bike discovered traces on the machine that indicate he had collided with some small animal, which apparently caused the crash.
Thanks for the update.
Gotta watch out for those “small animals”
I could be wrong, but I’ve never hears of American racing “fans” constructing booby traps on off road race course.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Baja 1000 races cross the border.
And you say that writing from the state that has closed down more motorized off-road recreation than anyone else.
Baja California is absolutely stunning. Polk should have acquired the land after the ass-kicking he gave to Mexico, IMO. Would have been a great retirement community or military training base.
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