Ducati and rider Steve Kamrad and the NORRA Mexican 1000 are likely making headlines for the wrong reasons. Kamrad’s unsportsmanlike behavior caused a head-on collision with another racer. Despite this, race organizer Jimmy Lewis allowed Kamrad to continue, but fate had other plans when Kamrad’s Ducati DesertX Rally caught fire this morning.
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Monday April 29th, 2024
Kamrad and the Ducati DesertX Rally before the firestorm.Yesterday, (Sunday April 28th, 2024) Ducati and Steve Kamrad’s names were on everyone’s lips at the Norra Mexican 1000 yesterday and today. Not, however, in any way either would have hoped for. Kamrad for distinctly unsportsmanlike behavior, and Ducati by association and karma.
Yesterday, Kamrad (#53) was reported to have precipitated a head on collision. After the special the Ducati rider, and AdvPulse contributor decided to backtrack the course. There are provisions for backtracking like this, generally it’s done when the course is relatively clear, and never at speed. Indeed Kamrad, had completed the timed special and only had to take the liaison so shouldn’t have needed to hurry. From the reports, Kamrad and the Ducati rounded a corner and head-on’ed another racer, Canadian Matthew Glade (#55).
The racer was thrown backwards from their bike, activating their airbag vest. Glade suffered a concussion, but the vest likely prevented severe or fatality. Kamrad, not currently under the clock, then left the injured rider. Later in the race, Kamrad was reported to undertake the same backtracking behaviour, luckily without another head-on collision.
NORRA Mexican 1000 organizer Jimmy Lewis took no action against Kamrad.* Indeed, contravening NORRA’s own rules, Lewis allowed Kamrad to continue representing Ducati in the race. Perhaps the event is failing to live up to it’s tagline as the “Happiest Race on Earth”.* Regardless, fate has intervened.**
As of 10am PST this morning, it was reported from the race that Kamrad’s Ducati DesertX Rally had caught fire, and burned to the ground. In a further twist, and you can’t make this **** up, Jimmy Lewis was forced to put Kamrad on the back of his KTM EXC and double him off the course.
Suddenly, what is a PR nightmare for Ducati from a sportsmanship perspective as they and Kamrad are the talk of the pits, has become a very real disaster for the DesertX Rally.* The fire raises questions of reliability for the DesertX, well beyond those of a rider representing the brand.*