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Farewell to Dane Westby

William Connor

Racers ride knowing the risks on the track, motorcyclists ride knowing the risks on the street. Earlier this week that risk took the life of AMA racer Dane Westby. He was involved in a motorcycle accident near his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Dane Westby was a rider who got everything he could out of any bike on any given day. His tenacity and unwillingness to give up had earned him the nickname "The Wolverine." He also sported sideburns to match the moniker and looked a bit like the comic book character.

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While his career was not the rocket ship that some other racing stars experienced, Dane was talented and driven. When he couldn't find a team to keep racing he started his own in 2013. Sponsored by Yamalube, Westby quickly got up to speed and racked up wins and podiums. You can see his drive for racing in the last two seasons in particular—he finished in the top three in points the following season.

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  • 2014 Finished the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike season 3rd Overall in points with a double win at Barber, finished with a 16-second win over 2nd place in the pouring rain at New Jersey for the win, was the first 3- time winner in 2014. Raced for Team Yamalube / Westby Racing.

  • 2013 Placed in the top 10 in every race. Finished AMA Pro Daytona SportBike season sixth place in points.Raced for Team Yamalube / Westby Racing.

  • 2012 Finished the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike season second-place in the points with one win (Mid-Ohio) and nine additional podiums. Only finished outside of the top 10 once in 19 starts. Raced for M4 Suzuki.

  • 2011 Competed in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, earning his breakout victory in Race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Finished the season seventh in the point standings. Raced for Team M4 Suzuki.

  • 2011 Competed in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, earning his breakout victory in Race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Finished the season seventh in the point standings. Raced for Team M4 Suzuki.

  • 2010 Finished fifth overall in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, took second in the Daytona 200.

  • 2009 Finished 18th in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike standings with five top-10 finishes. Also began campaigning the SunTrust Moto-GT1 season at the halfway point, earning three poles (VIR, New Jersey and the 8 Hours At Daytona) and three victories (Mid-Ohio, Topeka and the 8 Hours At Daytona).

  • 2008 WERA National Champion in 600 SuperSport and 600 Superbike. Also raced in three endurance series including AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT with Team M4. Finished 12th in the Mid-Ohio Superstock race and made a pair of AMA Pro SuperSport starts with a best showing of 10th at Road Atlanta.

  • 2007 Won second consecutive Suzuki SV650 Cup. Won three WERA Championships and four AMA Sports National Championships. Nominated for the AMA Horizon Award.

  • 2006 Suzuki SV650 Cup Champion.

  • 2005 Recorded 25 podium finishes in 30 races in his first year as an Expert Rider.

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DWRace
DWRace

Here are some video highlights of Dane's career and a rider profile from MotoSport.

This last video is his win at NJMP in the pouring rain.

Dane has been fondly remembered by some of the sport's greats—from MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey: “All of us at MotoAmerica are deeply saddened at the news of Dane Westby’s passing. I watched him ride at our test last week in Texas and was impressed with his ability. He was a rising star and a rider with great potential. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his team and his friends.”

Colin Edwards has posted a great deal about Dane and his support for Edward's Boot Camps. You can check out Edwards FaceBook page for all the tributes.

We wish his family the best going forward and offer our deepest condolences on their loss.

The following quote from an interview done in 2012 speaks volumes about Dane Westby and how he felt about the sport that he loved both on and off the race track. This is how we should remember Dane Westby.

From a past interview, an AMA reporter asked Westby, “What draws you to the sport? The thrill, competition or the speed?”

He responded with: “It’s a thing that I’ve found that I like the most is being able to run with some guys that are good. There are some things in my life... I’m not a boxer, wrestler or baseball player. Motorcycle racing is something that I can do. It’s a confidence booster to be able to run with some guys that are some of the best around. Motorcycles are a big thing to me in my life.

“I enjoy riding them and going fast, but my favorite part of motorcycle racing having that good battle going back and forth. Obviously, taking a first is what I want to do, and nobody wants to get second or third, but it is the thrill of racing. You have to have the ability and work for it at the same time. It being a spec series, when you win, it’s because of you and your team.”

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