Author Topic: UK Journo killed on watercooled GS Launch (Read 9158 times)

Teapot · « **Reply #80 on:** January 25, 2013, 06:41:37 am »

160!!! Juslyk that's a bit much in Baviaans, or any dirt road.
I seriously don't think it was technical or rider error. Could be his health that erred and his heart maybe. What other reason for just leaving the road???
Very sad news and with all the bikers going down lately its just so sad. Maybe the big G upstairs is starting a bike club.

King Louis · « **Reply #81 on:** January 25, 2013, 09:13:58 am »

That is rough, very rough. On that stretch, that speed is possible. The one and only problem is that no ATGATT whatsoever can help you in that situation and the laws of physics take over if anything goes wrong. Imagine you are riding the Baviaans for a couple of hours, sand, gravel, dongas, ruts, watercrossings and you feel over the moon, then that open stretch invites you to open up. It's fun. I can imagine plenty of dogs either doing the same if not having done exactly the same, not so.......?

J-dog · « **Reply #82 on:** January 25, 2013, 09:15:34 am »

Quote from: King Louis on January 25, 2013, 09:13:58 am

That is rough, very rough. On that stretch, that speed is possible. The one and only problem is that no ATGATT whatsoever can help you in that situation and the laws of physics take over if anything goes wrong. Imagine you are riding the Baviaans for a couple of hours, sand, gravel, dongas, ruts, watercrossings and you feel over the moon, then that open stretch invites you to open up. It's fun. I can imagine plenty of dogs either doing the same if not having done exactly the same, not so.......?

yep that's a 200 km/h stretch through beautiful open karoo.

Jacko · « **Reply #83 on:** January 25, 2013, 09:43:53 am »

Guys, when you do fast speeds on gravel as most of us do on the odd occasion (KLR riders excluded

) the difference between "Whiiieeeeeeee!!!" and "OMG!!!" is measured in fractions of a second. We have all come very, very close to the edge and there's really very little between an ambulance and a war story an hour later at the next waterhole. There but for the grace of God...

Just losing concentration for one second could mean you leave the road with dire consequences.

I am assuming (more like speculating) the following - well aware that I could make an ass of myself:

1. The bikes were equipped with Anakee type tyres - not the ideal for gravel.
2. Having been on a number of these launches I know that many do not spare the horses, so to speak. This isn't wrong or reckless, taking the skill and experience of many of these riders into consideration. It just means that when something goes wrong it can have disastrous consequences.
3. One can only speculate how experienced a UK-based motorcycling writer is with doing high-speed gravel on a big bike. Unless he had an enduro/dirt bike background it couldn't have been that much.

Still, it's tragic.

RIP Kevin.

Grrrr.... · « **Reply #84 on:** January 25, 2013, 10:06:17 am »

R.I.P.

January was a rough month...

Kameel · « **Reply #85 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:01:29 am »

Quote from: Jacko on January 25, 2013, 09:43:53 am

Guys, when you do fast speeds on gravel as most of us do on the odd occasion (KLR riders excluded ) the difference between "Whiiieeeeeeee!!!" and "OMG!!!" is measured in fractions of a second. We have all come very, very close to the edge and there's really very little between an ambulance and a war story an hour later at the next waterhole. There but for the grace of God...

Just losing concentration for one second could mean you leave the road with dire consequences.

I am assuming (more like speculating) the following - well aware that I could make an ass of myself:

1. The bikes were equipped with Anakee type tyres - not the ideal for gravel.
2. Having been on a number of these launches I know that many do not spare the horses, so to speak. This isn't wrong or reckless, taking the skill and experience of many of these riders into consideration. It just means that when something goes wrong it can have disastrous consequences.
3. One can only speculate how experienced a UK-based motorcycling writer is with doing high-speed gravel on a big bike. Unless he had an enduro/dirt bike background it couldn't have been that much.

Still, it's tragic.

RIP Kevin.

Dit maak sin. 'n Ongeluk gebeur in 'n oogwink en dit kon netsowel enigeen van ons gewees het.

Jacko · « **Reply #86 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:12:51 am »

Exactly. Moenie te veel daarin probeer lees nie.

Behalwe dat:

a) Dit met enigeen van ons ook kon gebeur het; en
b) Dit hartseer is as iemand sterf.

DRAZIL · « **Reply #87 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:14:02 am »

Quote from: J-dog on January 25, 2013, 09:15:34 am

Quote from: King Louis on January 25, 2013, 09:13:58 am
That is rough, very rough. On that stretch, that speed is possible. The one and only problem is that no ATGATT whatsoever can help you in that situation and the laws of physics take over if anything goes wrong. Imagine you are riding the Baviaans for a couple of hours, sand, gravel, dongas, ruts, watercrossings and you feel over the moon, then that open stretch invites you to open up. It's fun. I can imagine plenty of dogs either doing the same if not having done exactly the same, not so.......?

yep that's a 200 km/h stretch through beautiful open karoo.

like you would know

JC · « **Reply #88 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:19:01 am »

Quote from: Jacko on January 25, 2013, 11:12:51 am

Exactly. Moenie te veel daarin probeer lees nie.

Behalwe dat:

a) Dit met enigeen van ons ook kon gebeur het; en
b) Dit hartseer is as iemand sterf.

+1

RIP Kevin

roxenz · « **Reply #89 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:25:47 am »

Quote from: Jacko on January 25, 2013, 11:12:51 am

Exactly. Moenie te veel daarin probeer lees nie.

Behalwe dat:

a) Dit met enigeen van ons ook kon gebeur het; en
b) Dit hartseer is as iemand sterf.

Zegactly. It could have been a bus in London. We don't live forever. Better to celebrate what he was and what he achieved.

Mooi Rooi · « **Reply #90 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:26:39 am »

So sad

R.I.P

Iron Shark · « **Reply #91 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:29:36 am »

Very Sad....

R.I.P Kevin

Buddy · « **Reply #92 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:31:10 am »

sting · « **Reply #93 on:** January 25, 2013, 11:35:48 am »

RIP. Very sad.

Dit kon met enige iemand gebeur het, BUT

160km/h op 'n pad wat jy NIE ken nie? Just asking.

Kaboef · « **Reply #94 on:** January 25, 2013, 12:09:26 pm »

This is very sad, but I think a lesson can be learned here - without disrespect to the rider.

Laws of physics says that at 160 on a 250kg bike on gravel with road tyres in dust, you have one foot in Valhalla already.

RIP

Welsh · « **Reply #95 on:** January 25, 2013, 12:17:39 pm »

It is physicallly not that easy to do much more on Gravel standing on Annakees as the grip often loses out to wind reistance and you are just spinning the rear.

Trailrider · « **Reply #96 on:** January 25, 2013, 01:52:57 pm »

SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - One of the top motoring journalists in the world, Kevin Ash (53) died in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday evening (22 January) at 19:15 on the Baviaanskloof road near Uniondale.

Ash was staying in the Hyatt Hotel at Oubaai as a guest of BMW Motorrad for the international press launch of the latest BMW R1200 GS motorcycle. As part of the launch the journalists, who all stay at Oubaai Hyatt, were treated to daily rides in the area.

According to the police, it seems that Ash, the motorcycling correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in England and a fellow journalist, both lost control of their motorcycles on the gravel road and were thrown from their bikes. Ash died on the scene while the other journalist was taken to Mediclinic George. The spokesperson for Mediclinic George was not available for comment.

A case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

Head of Communications of BMW SA, Guy Kilfoil told the George Herald Ash’s death is a great loss to the motorcycle industry. “Kevin’s death comes as a great shock to all of us. He was simply the most fantastically brilliant, witty, family man. It is just so sad, but he realised like most bikers that biking is a hazardous pastime. Our thoughts are with his wife and three daughters and we are doing everything in our power to help them through this difficult time.”

Kilfoil says all indications are that Ash died instantly and he was declared dead on the scene. At the time of the accident, Ash was riding with four bikers of a group of 20 international journalists currently here for the launch. BMW has booked the Hyatt as the base for the 300 odd journalists who are attending the launch between mid-January and mid-February.

According to Kilfoil, Ash’s remains will be flown back to England as soon as the coroner in Oudtshoorn releases his body,

His wife and daughters are yet to decide if they will come to South Africa.

Kilfoil says out of respect to Ash and his family the launch of the new motorcycle has been postponed until next week and should resume on Monday.

Trailrider · « **Reply #97 on:** January 25, 2013, 01:55:17 pm »

That is the road I refered to earlier.

And at 19:15 the sun would have been setting in their faces. That is still about 100km from the Hyatt. Seems they were running late.

arno · « **Reply #98 on:** January 25, 2013, 02:01:34 pm »

What does all the speculation help ?
Why not wait for the facts and then go for the guy ?

cocky · « **Reply #99 on:** January 25, 2013, 02:09:39 pm »

RIP
This is truely sad news, but as it was said before by his family, he die doing what he loves.
The concern about the speed on gravel is something I don't understand, we are all guilty of "gooing mielies" I certainly do, however it is done with due care and always kitted, ATGATT is a given.
The truth will filter through, for now we need to understand his families pain and feel for the loss.