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- Dubai 04:28 05:46 12:20 15:47 18:49 20:07
The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE have launched a full enquiry into the circumstances of the accident which resulted in the death of Pascal Grosjean (left). (SUPPLIED)
Reigning UAE Sportbike champion Pascal Grosjean from Switzerland has died while another British rider Tony Jordan is in intensive care at Rashid Hospital in Dubai after a post-race accident between the two which has marred the fifth UAE national race day of the season at Dubai Autodrome.
The pair collided on the slowdown lap after the 12-lap race of the UAE Sportbike Championship on Friday afternoon after Grosjean had been given the chequered flag for winning the race.
This is the second fatality at the Dubai Autodrome this year. In April, Dubai-based racing star Christophe Hissette from Belgium was killed in a fiery accident during practice for the final round of the GulfSport Radical Cup.
The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) have launched a full enquiry into the circumstances of the accident.
The organisers issued a statement after informing the next of kin of the duo late on Friday.
“It is with deep regret and great sadness that the Dubai Autodrome Motorsport Club (DAMC) has to report that an accident in the UAE Sportbike Championship, Race 1, resulted in one fatality and one rider in intensive care at Rashid Hospital in Dubai.
“At approximately 14:00pm after the 12 lap race for UAE Sportbikes, on the slowdown lap about 300 metres after the finish line straight, Pascal Grosjean (who had just been given the chequered flag for winning the race) and third place rider Tony Jordan collided - with both riders ending up injured on the track.
“Medical teams were immediately dispatched to the scene whereupon both riders were treated and stabilised. Grosjean was airlifted to Rashid Hospital from the track while Jordan was taken to the Dubai Autodrome medical centre before being taken to Rashid Hospital by ambulance.
“Reports from the hospital indicated that both riders were in a serious condition and a few hours later the passing of Grosjean was announced. Jordan remains in intensive care.”
Hamish Brown, General Executive of Dubai Autodrome said: “The Dubai Autodrome team and the motorsport community of the UAE are deeply saddened by the enormous loss and pass on our sincere condolences to Pascal Grosjean’s family and friends. Pascal was a multiple UAE champion who was well respected in motorsport and motorcycle community.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are very much with Tony and his family at this time. We wish him all the best and recovery during this critical period,” he added.
With the main 1000 Class UAE Sportbike regulars doing duty in the Qatar Superbike Championship, the 600 Class became the highlight on the series on the day.
Grosjean (Yamaha) was the man to beat and got a great start to take the lead into turn one. Tucked in behind him was Jason Burnside (Mapei Honda) and Jordan (Yamaha). The trio were inseparable for most of the race. In the end it was Grosjean who took top honours by 1.9 seconds from second placed Burnside and Jordan third.
TAM Auto Engineering/House of Portier Corvete won a double in round three of the Cytech UAE GT Championship with Karim Al Azhari and Fabien Giroix winning the premier GTA Class while Mohammed Al Mutawaa and Jiri Skula powered to victory in the GTC Class.
Azhari and Girioix staved off a concerted challenge from the Bassam Kronfli/ Raed Hassan Ginetta in the early stages, with Kronfli leading a large part of the first half of the race.
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