Kawasaki remembers fallen Iron Butt rider.

[rad3766]

Kawasaki has put out a nice press release in memory of Australian LD rider
'Davo' Jones who died just miles short of completing his first Iron Butt Rally.


http://www.kawasaki.com.au/kawpublic_docs/KawasakiSaddenedbytheLossofDavidDavoJones.pdf

[Tim Kreitz]

That's very sad. Best wishes to his family. :pray:

Not to start a controversy, but I have always questioned the added risks associated with endurance rallying on public roads -- especially near the end of the ride when the mind and body are tired.

In seven years of teaching MSF courses, we always told students that even a single beer in one's system can change reaction time and perception. It has always seemed to me that trying to rack up 1100-odd miles in less than 24 hours would certainly put the mind in a more deficit situation than a beer or two, but I guess every rider is different.

[Texas T]

We all face risks every time we swing a leg over.

Google has over 3000 hits on the search "davo jones" right now. Websites all around the world are reporting this.

[lddave]

Sad news of Davo's death butt if he had been wearing his helmet he most likely would not have had massive head injuries.

[Andrew T]

Sad news of Davo's death butt if he had been wearing his helmet he most likely would not have had massive head injuries.

Yeah, that's the weird thing; he was an ATGATT freak, so it's surprising his helmet was strapped on the back of the bike when he was found. Tragic.

[DaveC]

Deer strikes are a hit and miss survival. There is not a skill set related to them. ATGATT or not makes little difference. It is just the luck of the draw. Recall the MSF instructor killed by a deer in West Texas. Jumped out from behind one of the few bushes located out there and took him out. Had a friend nearly killed by one out there also. It is a matter of seconds and inches.

A sad day for his family and friends, may they find peace.

[rad3766]

Sad news of Davo's death butt if he had been wearing his helmet he most likely would not have had massive head injuries.

There has been some speculation on other LD forums that Davo may actually have been wearing a helmet at the time of his accident and that it came off his head.
Other riders have stated that they carry a second helmet with them strapped to the bike, I hope this was the case with Davo, I find it hard to believe that a rider of his experience and reputation would forego wearing one.
I wonder if anybody has gone back to the accident scene and taken a good thorough look in the brush, ditch etc. for the missing helmet.

[Valker]

I know that Davo was serious about helmet use and the IBA requires full time helmet use. I can't imagine him NOT wearing one, but I CAN imagine a brain fart big enough to forget to fasten one. I've done that (rarely) and I am a helmet nazi type guy.
I think the area needs to be searched also.

[VRoss]

It is likely that Davo tried to stay awake by riding without a helmet. He was on the home stretch too, which means the cumulative effect of sleep deprivation from the entire 11 days of riding...

[lddave]

Post I saw was that the helmet was strapped to the rear of the bike.Reported by riders in the rally whom were delayed at the wreck site.

[lddave]

Deer strikes are a hit and miss survival. There is not a skill set related to them. ATGATT or not makes little difference. .


I have no personal knowledge when it comes to deer strikes.
But I will have to disagree with the statement that when there is a deer and motorcycle collision the outcome is not affected by the choice to ride with or without gear. You might survive the impact with the deer but die from head injuries after your helmetless head slams the pavement .

[lddave]

Other riders have stated that they carry a second helmet with them strapped to the bike, I hope this was the case with Davo,

I rode in 1999 and 2001 Iron Butt Rallys helped at one of the 2003 checkpoints and was at the start of the 2005 and have never seen anyone carry an extra helmet. This does not mean Davo did not carry an extra one but it does not seem likely.

[NitroRoo]

Helmeted or not, it's still very sad news. RIP fellow Kawasaki Aussie rider.

[budzrex]

He will be missed I listed to him several times on a podcast i listen to that
seems to cater to ADV and LD riders he seemed to be a really cool guy.

you can probably find out more about him and maybe about the wreck on I am a couple of episodes
behind so I dont know if it has been discussed yet

http://sidestandup.com/default.aspx

There is a tribute and a link for donations on the site