{"id":45710,"date":"2013-11-16T12:31:51","date_gmt":"2013-11-16T20:31:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=45710"},"modified":"2013-11-16T16:40:17","modified_gmt":"2013-11-17T00:40:17","slug":"off-road-star-palmdale-native-killed-in-crash-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2013\/11\/16\/off-road-star-palmdale-native-killed-in-crash-2\/","title":{"rendered":"UPDATED: Off-road star, Palmdale native killed in crash"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"KC\"<\/a>
(Photo credit: Kinney Jones)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ENSENADA, Mexico\u2014SCORE International has confirmed that American motorcycle star Kurt Caselli<\/strong> tragically lost his life Friday as a result of injuries sustained during a late-race accident at the SCORE Baja 1000 being held in Mexico\u2019s Baja California.<\/p>\n

One of the best-liked and respected personalities in American desert racing, Caselli, 30, of Palmdale, died of serious trauma incurred when he apparently lost control of his KTM motorcycle in a sandy, high-speed section at approximate race-mile 792 while his team was leading in the late stages of the 883.1-mile international desert race.<\/p>\n

The accident occurred at 4:30 p.m. PT Friday [Nov. 15].<\/p>\n

\u201cOur desert racing family has lost a very special person in Kurt,\u201d commented SCORE President Roger Norman. \u201cKurt was a superb racer and this is a tragedy that affects us all. We extend our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Caselli family. Their loss is immeasurable and we grieve with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

A multi-time AMA National Hare & Hound Champion, WORCS Champion and many-time ISDE gold medalist, Caselli was a developing international rally racer as well. In June of this year he won the Desafio Ruta 40 Rally in Argentina \u2013 in what was only his second international rally since making his debut in the Dakar Rally at the end of 2012. Caselli won two stages of the Dakar Rally this past January.<\/p>\n

Caselli and his factory-backed KTM racing team won last year\u2019s SCORE San Felipe 250 and finished second and third in the other two SCORE Baja races this season.<\/p>\n

(Information via press release from SCORE International)<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

**View our earlier story and video featuring Caselli below***<\/em><\/h3>\n

Off-road star and Palmdale native Kurt Caselli<\/strong> died Friday while competing in the SCORE Baja 1000 race in Mexico, according to published reports. The Highland High School graduate was \u201cone of the best-liked and respected personalities in American off-road racing,\u201d according to ESPN sports, which labeled Caselli \u201cthe king of the World Off-Road Championship Series.\u201d<\/p>\n

The specifics of the crash are still unclear, and no official word has been released from SCORE officials.<\/p>\n

Widely regarded as one of the best off-road racers in the world, Caselli\u2019s favorite riding spot was his hometown of Palmdale.<\/p>\n

In his last message on social media (dated Nov. 7), Caselli posted the picture below with the following caption:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026.my favorite riding spot. The hills of Palmdale!! Born and raised on these trails, ill always love riding in my backyard!\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n