| Author | Message | ||
     Slaughter |
Decided to post this in the Racing section rather than the Storm Fronts. Not too often that we witness the death of a fellow racer. This hit many of us pretty hard at Willow Springs this month. Background: Jesus Amezcua - one of our top ranked 250cc GP riders fell in front of a group of riders, was struck and killed by a following racer going into the last turn of the last lap of the Roadracing World 250/50 race. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=27077 (copied and pasted from my post on the SV board) Took a while to post after the memorial. Kind of a disorganized, unedited stream-of-consciousness. It was an interesting crowd at the services - uniformed officers, Air Marshals, sportibkers and racers, family and friends. We pulled into the lot in full race leathers and there's like 3 dozen uniformed officers there waiting - told us where to park and THANKED us for turning out in full gear (the family had requested the racers to be there in full gear). We're feeling a little funny heading into a church, leather boots creaking and clumping as we walked but were greeted by smiles and nods by the family and friends. The entry to the church was flanked by a picture of Jesus in a turn on his 250 Honda - and on the other side a photo of him from (I believe) his police academy graduation - his two passions. After services we were eventually joined by maybe 50 riders in all for the procession to the cemetary. The police were really good to all of us - even letting Jean-Marc Arechiga ride his Ducati racebike as part of the parade (though it did overheat) It was a surprisingly touching ceremony. They brought Jesus' coffin front and center accompanied by a military escort, friends and fellow officers as pallbearers, uniformed officers saluting at attention. Sinatra's "My Way" started playing as the coffin came to rest in front of the crowd. I have never cared much for the song - it has gotten too corny to my ear in the past 4 decades but today, listening to the words and having heard so many people who KNEW Jesus Amezcua through the years - I GOT IT... Frank Sinatra, sometime soon, I'll raise a glass to you, man! After words by the priest, the flag folding ceremony with explanation of the tradations involved in each fold - continued until the final fold where the triangular folded flag was handed to his widow and she broke down and her sobs were heard by all. Nobody was keeping it together at that point. Tough guys - cops, air marshalls, friends, were all wiping away the tears as we witnessed the grief of his wife (now a widow) It was a gorgeous afternoon and as we left the cemetary, we were again thanked by the police and family for attending - representing the motorcycling part of his life. We're gonna miss you man.  | ||
| Daves |
Sorry for the loss of your friend Steve | ||
| Bdabuell |
that's very sad...I'm sorry...my best wishes to all of you | ||
| Zac |
As I had posted on some other boards...I never met Jesus, but he was definately a friend of a friend, as the 250 circle is pretty small. Hits close to home, being that I was planning on being in the 250/50 race earlier this year. It's been a tough year. We lost one of our ASMA racer family, Gene Bazyl, earlier this year in a senseless accident at a track day at La Junta (new rider crossed the straight in front of Gene, trying to exit the track, neither survived). At least there is some comfort in that Jesus was lost to a racing incident, which we all understand and accept in this sport, and not to a pointless tragedy. RIP -Zac | ||
| Slaughter |
At least there is some comfort in that Jesus was lost to a racing incident, which we all understand and accept in this sport, and not to a pointless tragedy. Well put. | ||
| Blake |
Next time I set my own best lap at OHR, I'll think of Jesus Amezcua. Godspeed compadré. |
