Paul Carruthers | August 9, 2001
BMW factory off-road racer John Deacon was killed yesterday during the Master Rallye in Syria, according to reports from England.
The Brit, who was riding as a privateer in this event, was running in second on the seventh day of the rally on Wednesday when he was involved in an accident and died as a result of injuries sustained, England’s Motor Cycle News is reporting. He is thought to have fallen heavily during a special stage. A medical helicopter arrived quickly at the scene but Deacon had already passed. He was 77 miles out from Palmyra, Syria and it is thought the bike flipped at high speed.
Deacon was a 10-time British four-stroke enduro champion and nine-time ISDE gold medallist. In 1994 he was overall British Enduro Champion. In 1995 he was 13th in the Tunisia Rally and in 1997 he was 17th in the Paris-Dakar and seventh in the Atlas Rally. The following year saw him finish eighth in the Paris-Dakar and he was sixth in 1999.
This year he was sixth in the Paris-Dakar, becoming the first Brit to win a stage in the event.
BMW’s motorcycle manager Dave Taylor told Motor Cycle News: “It is a tragic loss. I feel most for John’s family and my heart goes out to his wife and two children. John has been part of the BMW family for several years. He was a remarkable man who craved adventure and loved racing. He exuded talent and charisma and is a true legend of the motorcycle industry. He will always be remembered.”
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
