Saturday,
May
10, 10:45AM, Buttonwillow Raceway: John-Mark went out for a second
practice
session of the day on his GSXR 1000. He was extremely excited about and
confident in this bike. After a year and a half of not getting
along with a 2006 ZX-10, he felt he could really be fast on this bike,
get back to some of his old times on it at the racetrack. He worked in
preparation for this race weekend for days on end, even after the bike
was essentially race ready he fiddle with every little thing on it to
make it exactly how he wanted it. He didn't always pay such
close
attention to his bikes, only the ones he loved, like his Centauro Moto
Guzzi, and this bike. After
4 or 5 laps he hit the first rumble strip coming through the esses,
upsetting the bike. He tried riding through it but by the time the
second rumble strip came it, it was likely too hard to keep it under
control after hitting the first and it threw him off. When the ambulance arrived he
was unconscious but breathing on his own, with a steady pulse. Evidently
his pupils were dilated and unresponsive to light. He stopped breathing in
the ambulance and was put on a respirator. His heart stopped and was
started more than one time during the ambulance ride. When he arrived at
the hospital 45 minutes later, he had no pulse. They tried for 45 minutes to
revive
him - but were unsuccessful. The cause reported was multiple blunt force injuries.
John-Mark
said frequently he did not want a fuss over
his death - he wanted everyone to have a great party and say
their goodbyes with a smile. The party for him started Friday May16th
at a three story house in San Diego, continued with cocktails
and a memorial service on Saturday evening at a nearby
Sheraton Hotel, then returned to the house to continue the party until Sunday afternoon. John-Mark
would have loved the party and been pleased to see so
many friends, family and people he cared about all getting together. |
