OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[gothev8]

Sad news I read this morning on Ninemsn:

A Sydney man chasing a world record for the longest quad bike ride has died in Malawi after he was hit by a car being pursued by police.

Valerio Daniel De Simoni, 24, was riding with two friends near the city of Lilongwe on Saturday when the speeding car crossed to the wrong side of the road and crashed into his bike, leaving him severely injured.

He died in a light plane on Sunday on his way to hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mr De Simoni was a member of the Expedition Quad Squad — a group of three Australian men who set out last year to break the Guinness World Record for the longest journey on a quad bike. The ride is also to raise awareness about global poverty.

The Quad Squad — Mr De Simoni, James Kenyon and Kristopher Davant — were within hundreds of kilometres of breaking the record and just a month away from returning home when the accident happened.

"The car went flying, the quad went flying," the Quad Squad's project co-ordinator Sylvie Narciso told ninemsn.

The police chasing the car helped Mr De Simoni at the crash scene and he was taken to a local hospital in a critical condition.

But the hospital did not have the facilities to treat him and he was medically evacuated to Johannesburg with Mr Davant.

Thirty minutes into the two-and-a-half hour flight, Mr De Simoni was pronounced dead.

The plane stopped in Harare, Zimbabwe. Mr Davant continued to Johannesburg, but Mr De Simoni's body remains in Harare.

The Quad Squad plans to continue their ride in Mr De Simoni's honour.

"Within a month or so when everything is sorted out … They are going to go back and finish it, not for themselves but for Valerio," Ms Narciso said.

"They're doing it for Val and what he believed in."

Police told Mr Davant and Mr Kenyon they were chasing the driver because he parked illegally.

Instead of paying a bribe to the police, as is common practice in Malawi, the man sped off and the officers gave chase, Ms Narciso said.

Mr De Simoni's mother has already flown to Africa and other family are also travelling to the continent.

A DFAT spokesperson last night confirmed a 24-year-old NSW man had died after an accident in Malawi on March 13.

"Consular officers from the Australian High Commission in Harare are providing assistance to the man's travel companions," the spokesperson said.

"Consular officers at the Australian High Commission in Pretoria are providing consular assistance to the man's family in Johannesburg."

Mr De Simoni, who lived in Bondi, was a talented soccer player who spent time in Italy before he was permanently sidelined with an injury.

He later started his own business producing websites and business cards.
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2012 Polaris RZR XP Turbo
2009 Polaris RZR 170

[dynamitediscodave]

that sucks!


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ltr450 with un-broken stuff

Thanks to: HST, Roycroft, AUSTRACO, ATV's Unlimited, Hardiman and Casper

[vjcrose]

that sucks
big time...
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Family is most important.... next is our quads

[Dino]

Their facebook page below.

http://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=expedition+quad+squad&init=spell&tas=0.5003140510303132&ref=ts&sc_oq=expidition+quad+squad&sc_h=636355846&sc_a=cs&sc_r=1#!/EXPQUADSQUAD?sk=wall

Val has left a lasting legacy on these pages. Ted and Jamie hope to continue in a month or so......
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Remember. We elect politicians, but we have to deal with bureaucracy.
Notice that crazy in the bureaucrats.

[The Jackal]

Thanks for the link Dino... I've joined the page and send my condolences...
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TGB 550 Blade with custom paint work
Mad Dog rear ATV bag
Garmin 62s GPS
Icom handheld UHF CB
3000lb winch
Koplin rifle rack
IPL tank bag


Queenslander is a religion. If you're not getting dirty, you're not riding hard enough.

[boycee]

Poor bugger.
Glad to hear the rest of the group are finishing it in his honor.

[jnrracer14]

boycee wrote:

Poor bugger. Glad to hear the rest of the group are finishing it in his honor.

[Dino]

As of tonight, the boys are back in Malawi, Africa.
The record is certainly within reach and good luck to them.
_________________
Remember. We elect politicians, but we have to deal with bureaucracy.
Notice that crazy in the bureaucrats.