Pikes Peak Hill Climb Champion Carlin Dunne Passes Away

Motorsport can be fatal. As much we try to forget the reality of it, there are days when it comes staring at back at you. In a tragic turn of events, Ducati racer Carlin Dunne had a fatal crash at the 2019 Pikes Peak Hill Climb. The American racer was astride the new Ducati Panigale V4 prototype that had made its debut at the event earlier last week. The  36-year-old racer suffered a high speed crash just before the finish line. While an official statement is yet to be made, a Gazette reporter witnessed bike shrapnel going over the right edge of the road about 20 yards from the finish line. Allegedly, the last section of the climb was bumpy, and Dunne might have hit a small bump losing his bike's front in the process.

Pikes Peak Hill Climb organisers said in a statement, “We mourn the tragic death of Carlin and he will remain in our hearts forever as part of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb family  Carlin will be remembered as a warm-hearted mentor with a competitive spirit. He was a gentle and thoughtful man who touched everyone who met him. We will always remember his contagious smile and genuine love for sport.”

Dunne was on to become the fastest man to complete the hill climb, a feat he had already broken multiple times in the past. In fact, the 36-year-old was the first motorcyclist in the history of the Pike Peak International Hill Climb to achieve a sub 10 minute time up to the mountain top, back in 2012 on a specially modified Ducati Multistrada 1200. As part of Pikes Peak, the racers cover a distance of 20 km, climbing from 9390 feet to 14,114 feet. This year, Dunne was on pole as well. Dunne is the seventh participant to lose his life in relation with the Hill Climb.

from NDTV CarAndBike - Latest News