Two Killed In Daytona Motorcycle Crash
Team Hammer Advanced Riding School instructor Rick Shaw and student Eric Desy each died from injuries suffered when the pair collided while exiting the banking at the track.
Shaw, 65, was a former AMA SuperBike racer and Miami/Dade police officer. Shaw held the record for miles completed in the famed Daytona 200 motorcycle race until 2011. Shaw ran his first Daytona race in 1981 and retired after the 2006 race and ran 3,728.33 miles during the Daytona 200 alone.
“Everyone at Team Hammer Advanced Riding School is saddened following the tragic loss of student Eric Desy and long-time instructor and former professional racer Rick Shaw at Daytona Int’l Speedway," said Team Hammer Advanced Riding School’s John Ulrich in a statement. “Rider safety is at the very forefront of all we do and our track record at Daytona speaks for itself. Over the last two decades more than 5000 students have gone through our advanced riding school program at the Speedway, without major incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out for the families of Eric and Rick. Eric was a passionate motorcycle enthusiast and amateur racer who was very excited to be riding at Daytona. Rick was an excellent instructor and a great friend. His riding resume at Daytona was outstanding, and for many years he held the record for the most miles raced in the Daytona 200. He really enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience, and he was very popular with our students. We are fully committed to providing a safe, thrilling and unforgettable riding school for our students and will carefully review our processes and procedures closely to see if there is anything we can improve in the future. Godspeed, Eric Desy. Godspeed, Rick Shaw."
The following statement was issued on behalf of Daytona Int’l Speedway:
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the riders and their families, and we are deeply saddened by their loss. Rick Shaw in particular had a long history of racing at Daytona, and for several years held the record for most miles raced in the Daytona 200. He was loved by many in the motorcycle community and we will miss him greatly.
“The safety of fans and competitors is always our top priority and we work closely with event officials to ensure the best safety protocols are in place and followed. Team Hammer Advanced Riding School has an outstanding track record of safety at Daytona International Speedway, hosting thousands of riders since the early 1990s. Whenever an unfortunate incident does occur at our facility, we take the opportunity to learn and refine any event procedures." National Speed Sport News