Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Young Australian racer Reece Bancell was killed August 31 during the final round of the 2003 Shell Advance Australian Championships at Eastern Creek Raceway near Sydney, Australia.

Bancell, 19, of Hornsby, New South Wales, died from injuries sustained in a multi-bike, chain-reaction collision in Eastern Creek’s fast turn one during the final Australian Supersport race of the day. The race was canceled after the incident.

Bancell started racing on a Moriwaki MH80R in 1998 and was the “Top Privateer” in the 2002 Australian Championship series, when he finished on the podium several times and took third in the series Championship.

“I have seen probably every major road race he has been in since he was old enough to get a racing license at 16,” wrote www.mcnews.com.au editor Trevor Hedge in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com. “Really great young bloke, one of the most passionately absorbed in his racing, but at the same time he had the rare ability of also having his feet on the ground and was a truly pleasant young man. I can honestly say that I am not peering through backwards looking rose-coloured glasses clouded by his memory when I state that he was quite possibly the most genuinely liked young bloke in the paddock.”

Funeral services for Bancell were held September 5 in Australia.

Bancell’s family hopes that a “Reece Bancell Memorial Trophy” for the highest finishing privateer in the Australian Supersport Championship will be established in their son’s memory.

To send messages of condolences to Bancell’s family, go to:

http://www.mcnews.com.au/reece/



Meanwhile, WERA racer Trent Dailey from Loganville, Georgia was killed during practice August 23 at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway. Dailey ran off the track (which was being run in the counter-clockwise direction) at the back-straight kink, veered right across the run-off area and went into the forest.

A funeral was held on Tuesday, August 26. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, his mother and stepfather, and a sister.

More, from an e-mail from Paige Roberson:

The Georgia Sportbike Association and the WERA family lost a dear friend, Trent Dailey (“The Ingegnere”), who was killed in a motorcycle accident on August 23, 2003. Trent was Chief Engineer of Lombardini USA, Inc. and a graduate of Georgia Tech. He leaves behind a beautiful wife, Melanie, and two adorable daughters, Hannah (4) and Isabella (1).

Please join us for a memorial ride on September 21, 2003 (Sunday) as we remember and pay tribute to Trent. Details of the ride may be found at www.georgiasportbike.com/CharityRide/flyer.doc

The ride will benefit the Hannah & Isabella Dailey Educational Trust Fund. Donations will be accepted at registration or via PayPal at www.georgiasportbike.com/charityride/PayPal.asp. All donations accepted, no minimum or maximum.

For more information, please contact Raul Jerez ([email protected]), Marge Ramos ([email protected] or 404-680-5241) or Paige Roberson ([email protected] or 678-313-0848).