Reigning AMA National Hare & Hound Champion, multi-time International Six Days Enduro gold medalist and international rally competitor Kurt Caselli of Murrietta, California, was killed in a solo racing accident while competing in the 2013 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 on November 15.
SCORE officials confirmed the accident, which happened near Race Mile 792, while he held the physical lead of the race. Caselli suffered massive head injuries in the crash. He was 30 years old. Caselli was one of the most respected and well-liked American racers in the world, and his loss has dealt a severe blow to the American motorcycle scene.
Reaction to the tragedy was swift. SCORE President Roger Norman spoke on behalf of the sanctioning body in response to the accident.
“Our desert racing family has lost a very special person in Kurt,” Norman said. “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.”
“The American Motorcyclist Association expresses deep regret for the death of multi-time AMA National Champion Kurt Caselli. The reigning champion of the AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series succumbed to injuries suffered while competing in the Baja 1000 in Baja California, Mexico, on November 15. Caselli was 30 years old.
“‘Kurt Caselli was one of American desert racing’s finest champions, and his early and untimely death is a major blow to the hearts and minds of all of us who knew him or knew of him,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. ‘Caselli was a gracious competitor, a team leader and a fan favorite. His love for motorcycling showed through in everything he did, whether he was leading his fellow racers as the U.S. team captain for the International Six Days Enduro or signing autographs for a young fan. On behalf of the AMA Board of Directors, our staff and AMA members everywhere, we offer our condolences to the family of Kurt Caselli and thank them for sharing with us one of the sport’s finest racers and greatest men.'”
A multi-time AMA National Hare & Hound Champion, WORCS Champion and many-time ISDE gold medalist, Caselli was also developing international rally racer as well. In June of this year he won the Desafio Ruta 40 Rally in Argentina – in what was only his second international rally since making his debut in the Dakar Rally at the end of 2012. Caselli also won two stages of the Dakar Rally this past January. Caselli also was a member of the World Championship-winning 2006 ISDE U.S. Junior Team. In 2007, Caselli was named as AMA Sportsman of the Year.
Caselli had recently announced a shift to international rally racing for KTM, a move that was expected to fuel additional American interest in the sport of rally racing.
Your Privacy Choices