Carlin Dunne Dies at Pikes Peak
Cycle News Staff | June 30, 2019
Photos by Larry Chen
Race officials confirm four-time winner has fatal crash near finish
Carlin Dunne succumbed to injuries from a crash near the finish of the 2019 Pikes Peak Hillclimb
Carlin Dunne was very much on his way to a fifth Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb overall victory when he hit a rough area on the final section of the course and lost control of his Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype. The resulting crash threw the bike and rider off the mountain road. Dunne succumbed to injuries, the seventh fatality in the 97-event history of the race.
Dunne had qualified fastest overall leading up to the race and was in Superpole position for Sunday’s event. At the moment of his accident, he had set the fastest time in all sections.
“There are no words to describe our shock and sadness,” Ducati North America CEO Jason Chinnock said. “Carlin was part of our family and one of the most genuine and kind men we have ever known. His spirit for this event and love of motorcycling will be remembered forever as his passing leaves a hole in our hearts.”
Carlin Dunne was a four-time winner at Pikes Peak as well as a multi-time Baja winner.
Cycle News’ Rennie Scaysbrook competed with Dunne the past few years at Pikes Peak, finishing runner-up to him last year, and trained with him in the weeks leading up to the event.
“My first experience with Carlin was during the rookie’s program at Pikes Peak, where he was a mentor when I first stepped on the mountain to compete,” Scaysbrook said. “He gave me tips I’ve used every year at Pikes Peak. This year, he came by right before I took off and said, ‘See you at the top, have a great run.’ He was a complete gentleman and he taught me so much about what to expect here. We were riding supermoto just a week ago. There was no ego. He was just a great guy and one of the best motorcycle talents in America. From Baja to Pikes Peak, he was just unbelievable. It’s a tragedy that he’s gone.”
Dunne was 36 years old.
Carlin Dunne
