On Friday of last week, just before a weekend of racing, off-road dirt bike racer Nathan Woods passed away after sustaining serious issues after a crash while practicing for the WORCS race. The WORCS Series sent out this press release that day:
Today off-road Racing lost one of the greatest off-road Champions ever to throw a leg over a Dirtbike.
Nathan Woods while practicing for the tomorrows WORCS race passed away.
He will be missed, Our Thoughts and Prayers are with Mrs Woods his Two sons Little Nate and Braxton and the entire Woods Family
God Speed #54
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Stillwell Performance also set up a memorial fund for Woods’s family, as he had joined the Carbon Raptor Stillwell Performance Racing team for the 2011 season. Since joining the team, Stillwell Performance Racing says Woods had bonded well with his young teammate, Kevin Rookstool, and he was very excited and motivated to begin the season with the new team and to help mentor Rookstool throughout the year.
“The entire team is extremely saddened by Nathan’s tragic passing. We were all so excited about this season and the opportunity to work with a great man and champion like Nathan and were confident he would have been a front runner in both the WORCS and EnduroCross series. We will race this season with heavy hearts, but knowing that Nathan will be with us, as demonstrated by Kevin’s amazing 6th overall finish yesterday despite the circumstances,” said Team Owner Alan Stillwell.
“Everyone at the RiderDown Foundation is deeply saddened by the loss of Nathan Woods this past weekend,” said Bruce Vermeulen, President of RiderDown. “He was a great ambassador for our sport and will be missed greatly. We are accepting donations to help the family during this very difficult time and will be sending an initial check from previous fundraising efforts immediately in memory of Nathan. 100% of all donations mentioning the Nathan Woods Memorial Fund will be given directly to the family.” Payments can be made through your PayPal account or with any major credit card with all proceeds going to support Nathan’s family.
When submitting your donation please enter into the notes field that it is for the Nathan Woods Memorial Fund. Please visit www.RiderDown.org and their Donate Page at http://www.riderdown.org/forum/awcl_dsl.php?do=donation to help.
Nathan’s local Templeton, CA Rabobank location has also started a Nathan Woods Memorial Fund and will be accepting donations by check or credit card at any of their locations nationwide with all proceeds going to the Woods family.
Powersport Grafx will be donating #54 Never Forgotten helmet stickers that will be available shortly.
More information at www.stillwellperformance.com.