World Endurance Championship: Suzuki Endurance Racing Team rider Anthony Delhalle dies in testing crash

Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) rider Anthony Delhalle unfortunately succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash during testing at the Nogaro Circuit in France on Thursday. The team was present at the Nogaro private test with several other endurance teams as part of preparations for the 24 Hours of Le Mans FIM World Endurance race in April. French media state eyewitness reports that the 35-year-old Frenchman put a wheel off into the wet grass (it had recently rained) near the end of the 0.6-mile front straight and crashed heavily, tumbling through the grass runoff without hitting anything or the bike. He reportedly suffered a cervical spine injury that stifled any attempts at resuscitation by rescue personnel.

Delhalle was a veteran member of the multi-championship SERT team for six years, winning five world titles with the team along with three world titles with other Suzuki teams. The Frenchman began his endurance racing career with the QERT (Qatar Endurance Racing Team) that led to a short stint in the Moto2 World Championship series, before joining SERT in 2011. He is survived by a wife and two children. Sport Rider extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Delhalle.