RIP Kurt Caselli

[WoodsChick]

The desert is a harsh mistress. Kurt Caselli lost his life 80 miles from the finish of the Baja 1000 tonight. Apparently he hit a small animal and crashed hard, succumbing to head injuries. EDIT: The booby trap rumours were found to be false, thank goodness.

Kurt was truly one of the good guys. My buddy was pitting for him last year down in Baja. Kurt saw someone stealing my buddy's gear bag and chased the guy down the street and caught him. He didn't have to do that. My buddy was a nobody in the B1K world but it was the right thing to do so Kurt did it.

Such a huge loss on so many levels. His family and friends will miss him greatly, not to mention his many fans. His loss will leave a huge void in off-road racing here in the states. He was America's future at Dakar.

Peace and comfort to his family and friends and all who knew him. It's going to be a long night...




SadChick

 

[byke]

Ahhhh what the fuuuuuc#$!! That is terrible and infuriating news.

 

[WoodsChick]

Ahhhh what the fuuuuuc#$!! That is terrible and infuriating news.

I know. Super frustrating. Like watching the best in the world go flying by you isn't enough? You gotta set up a booby trap to see a spectacular crash in order to be entertained? I just really have no words right now...I am so sad and angry and frustrated and just...in disbelief. My heart is breaking when I think of his family...




WoodsChick

 

[SVJ]

Wow. No words...

 

[planegray]

:rose

 

[SuperMike]

:rose

Damn animals.

 

[Nemo Brinker]

Oh bloody hell. RIP, man.

 

[Deftone]

That's horrible. RIP.

 

[Lunch Box]

I am still in disbelief. What kind of sick person does something like this. :rip Kurt. Truly one of the most amazing American desert riders. My thoughts are with his family and friends. :nchantr

 

[WoodsChick]

I am still in disbelief. What kind of sick person does something like this. :rip Curt. Truly one of the most amazing American desert riders. My thoughts are with his family and friends. :nchantr

Word is now that it might not have been a trap. I hope not. It's still a tragic loss but it makes it easier to swallow somehow. If it's just racing, well, I think every one of us that signs the waiver and swings a leg over knows and understands...and accepts...the inherent risks of the sport we love. I think if a rider hasn't made peace with that idea then they shouldn't be doing it. I'm sure Kurt understood full well what riding the B1K was all about. Dakar, too. However, meeting your demise at the hands of malicious tampering just makes it all so much more tragic and wasteful. Much harder for those left behind to reconcile it all and make peace with it.




WoodsChick

 

[Map8]

RIP Kurt Casselli

http://www.cyclenews.com/221/22610/Racing-Article/R-I-P--Kurt-Caselli.aspx

AMA Hare & Hound Champion Kurt Caselli succumbed to the injuries he suffered while competing in the SCORE Tecate Baja 1000 in Baja California, Mexico, earlier today, November 15. Caselli was 30 years old...

Caselli is widely regarded as one of the best off-road racers in the world.

 

[Zerox]

Locals set up a booby trap that killed Kurt.

 

[strega]

RIP Kurt. What a tremendous talent, stepping up to Dakar last yr and posting some solid results. Big thumbs down to the mexican
"Fans" who think that booby-trapping the course sadistically is entertaining. Fuck them all. All thoughts
to the Caselli family/friends and off-road racing community.

 

[budman]

That is so f'd up.

An Amazing rider.

Godspeed Kurt. :rose

Condolences to family, friends and team members.

 

[CockyRooster]

Wow....stunned. Just stunned.

 

[Map8]

There is some dispute on whether it was a booby trap or a crash.

 

[Johndicezx9]

If it was a trap, they're f###ing savages. :mad

 

[DonJigweed]

from the comments....

"This is a very tricky note -from the reporter-..... These kind of traps are made by local ranchers that in doing so, prevents cattle from dispersing......"

Might not be the malice you think it is.

 

[BURNROPE]

From what I've been reading it hasn't been determined if he hit a booby trap or not. Usually in Baja booby traps are set up to make spectating more fun. If you're in the middle of nowhere and there's a large crowd, chances are that there is a booby trap there.

 

[Mortifer]

On my way home now from the race, we went down to play and watch it.
2x would have won it, I believe a first time for KTM.
Very sad for all involved and his family/friends/fans.

From another forum-