The 16th edition of the annual Passion for Speed International Historic Race Meeting, held at Killarney, South Africa, on Saturday, 04 February 2017, was marred by the death of former multiple South African motorcycle champion Gavin Ramsey, 53.
The accident happened during the second heat of the South African Tourist Trophy for pre-1989 motorcycles. At the start of third lap, Ramsay’s black Suzuki GSX-R #33 went out of control under braking into Turn 1. Apparently the bike slid and went down on an oil spill caused by a crash of another motorcycle in the same spot seconds earlier. The double-waved yellow flag signals were out to warn other riders of the initial crash.
Gavin Ramsay was thrown off his machine and slid into the other crashed motorcycle, which was still lying at the edge of the track, sustaining severe injuries. The veteran rider died at the scene.
In consequence of the tragedy, the race was immediately stopped and the meeting was brought to a premature close. In early morning, Gavin Ramsay had finished fifth in the first heat of the South African Tourist Trophy for pre-1989 motorcycles. This was the second round of the 2017 South African Tourist Trophy Revival Series, a week earlier Ramsey had won the first event at Zwartkops near Pretoria.
R.I.P
