Adrien Nicolas Fatal Crash @ Spa Francorchamps 2008
FatalMotorsportChannel
2023-12-08
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drien Nicolas was born in Dinant, in the Belgian province of Hainaut, on 19 November 1976. He lived in that same town, and was the owner of srpl Toitures Adrien Nicolas, a roofing company located in the industrial zone of Sorinnes, a commune of Dinant.
Adrien debuted his racing career in the Coupe Aprilia in 2001 series before moving to the Bikers' Cup and its endurance races, where he and his team mate Karl Dutronquois obtained several wins.
On Saturday, 16 August 2008, Nicolas took part in the 8 Hours of Spa Francorchamps, the last round of that year's Biker's Cup. The event was surrounded by much expectation: no less than fifty-six motorcycles qualified for the race, including a works BMW HP2 Sport ridden by two-time endurance champion Stéphane Mertens and the former MotoGP 500 competitor Sébastien Legrelle. Another notable entry was Suzuki GSX-R 1000 of Team Yoshimura Van Zon, conducted by German IDM Supersport champion Werner Daemen and Olivier Depoortere.
Adrien and his brother Christophe prepared lengthly for the 8 Hours of Spa; heading their Styl Car Team, they even commissioned special t-shirts for the race, and held a festive atmosphere at the team's box. The good times scored by Adrien in the qualifying sessions just served to underline their optimism for a great result.
The start of the 8 Hours was given at 16h00 in Le Mans style, with the riders on the left of the track and their mounts on the right. The very good weather brought a large crowd to Spa-Francorchamps; together with a rich and diverse field, that created expectation for a great race. Already on the first lap though, the fall of a rider at the Bus Stop chicane obliged to organizers to bring the safety car out.
As the leaders passed the start-finish line for the second time they lined up behind the safety car, reducing their speed. The riders not in the first platoon of competitors, though, were caught by surprise: approaching the end of the Raidillion descent at high speed, these riders faced a compact group of competitors traveling much slower. It is possible that the riders in the second platoon became confused as they were following a medical car, which was amidst the competitors; when the medical car entered the pitlane, these riders may have believed that the race had resumed, and sped up downhill to the Radilllon. A terrible pile-up ensued; at least six riders were launched from their mounts, and three motorcycles exploded in flames.
Unfortunately Adrien Nicolas did not survive his injuries, and passed away in the afternoon of the following day, 17 August. He was thirty-one years old.
R.I.P
Adrien debuted his racing career in the Coupe Aprilia in 2001 series before moving to the Bikers' Cup and its endurance races, where he and his team mate Karl Dutronquois obtained several wins.
On Saturday, 16 August 2008, Nicolas took part in the 8 Hours of Spa Francorchamps, the last round of that year's Biker's Cup. The event was surrounded by much expectation: no less than fifty-six motorcycles qualified for the race, including a works BMW HP2 Sport ridden by two-time endurance champion Stéphane Mertens and the former MotoGP 500 competitor Sébastien Legrelle. Another notable entry was Suzuki GSX-R 1000 of Team Yoshimura Van Zon, conducted by German IDM Supersport champion Werner Daemen and Olivier Depoortere.
Adrien and his brother Christophe prepared lengthly for the 8 Hours of Spa; heading their Styl Car Team, they even commissioned special t-shirts for the race, and held a festive atmosphere at the team's box. The good times scored by Adrien in the qualifying sessions just served to underline their optimism for a great result.
The start of the 8 Hours was given at 16h00 in Le Mans style, with the riders on the left of the track and their mounts on the right. The very good weather brought a large crowd to Spa-Francorchamps; together with a rich and diverse field, that created expectation for a great race. Already on the first lap though, the fall of a rider at the Bus Stop chicane obliged to organizers to bring the safety car out.
As the leaders passed the start-finish line for the second time they lined up behind the safety car, reducing their speed. The riders not in the first platoon of competitors, though, were caught by surprise: approaching the end of the Raidillion descent at high speed, these riders faced a compact group of competitors traveling much slower. It is possible that the riders in the second platoon became confused as they were following a medical car, which was amidst the competitors; when the medical car entered the pitlane, these riders may have believed that the race had resumed, and sped up downhill to the Radilllon. A terrible pile-up ensued; at least six riders were launched from their mounts, and three motorcycles exploded in flames.
Unfortunately Adrien Nicolas did not survive his injuries, and passed away in the afternoon of the following day, 17 August. He was thirty-one years old.
R.I.P
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