Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/933834
VOL. 55 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 30, 2018 P31 DAYMON STOKIE: 1990-2018 T he racing community mourns the loss of young Australian desert racer Daymon Stokie, who passed away January 28, 2018. Stokie was com- peting in the Deep Well Enduro in Alice Springs (Northern Territory, Australia) when he suffered a fatal crash. He was 27 years old. "It's sometimes the shittiest sport in the world with news like this," said Toby Price. "But in one way [Daymon] truly went out on top winning every- thing here in Australia and overseas!" Stokie was the reigning Finke Desert Race Champion, Australia's biggest desert race. It was there he met Colton Udall back in 2015, which led to Stokie coming to the U.S. for races like the Glen Helen 24 Hour and the Baja 1000. Udall offered a fond remembrance of Stokie, and his journey to becoming a champion. "My story with Daymon Stokie starts with my first and only trip to Australia to race the Finke Desert race in June of 2015. Our friendship wasn't solid then because I was the American coming to try and win the biggest desert race in Australia, but Stokie reached out and offered to take me down the track when he was off work. We went for a pre run and Daymon flew by me so fast in a set of deep whoops I damn near jumped off my bike. I tried to hang with him and found out quickly that I wouldn't be earning the top spot in Finke that year. Thanks for the rude awakening Stokie! I was lucky to place inside the top 10. Before I left Australia, I made sure to offer my home back in the U.S. for those Aussies who made me feel so welcome. A few months went by and Daymon reached out to come over to the U.S. Stokie came to live with me and the team up in Yucca Valley and we became a family. He was always so positive and happy and was great at the banter game with Mark Samuels. He won the 2016 24 Hours of Glen Helen with me, Justin [Jones] and Mark. Then, in dominant fashion, he backed it up with another win, this one coming at the Baja 1000 as a last-minute fill-in ride, covering for me on the 1x bike. It was the day of his 26th birthday and we were all so thankful we had the pleasure of sharing that day with him. He returned again to con- quer the San Felipe 250 in 2017 with Mark and Ryan Penhall. That was three big wins in a row and he wasn't finished. He went home and signed a deal with Yamaha but injured his hand in a crash. Despite the nagging injury, he lined up for the biggest race of his life, the Finke Desert Race. Overcoming all odds, Daymon won the race! I remember watching online and being so excited for him as he crossed the finish line. Stokie had done it. I was so damn proud. I enjoy writing about Daymon's racing and how he earned his champion status, but mostly, Daymon Stokie was an amazing human. He was constantly sharing the Stoke! It was his last name but also a perfect nickname for a guy like Daymon. The guy always brought happiness to those around him. He possessed admirable qualities and he is one of the very few who displayed real heart as a racer and as a person. He shared a lot of the same qualities Ox did and unfortunately was also taken from us. Daymon will forever live in our hearts and be a wonderful memory in our minds. Rest well Stokie! We love you, mate!" CN Australian desert racer Daymon Stokie suffered a fatal accident in Alice Springs, NT (Australia) over the weekend. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JERRY BERNARDO