Patrick Michael "Pat" Evans (El Cajon, California, April 28, 1955 - Bologna, April 6, 1977)[1] was an American motorcycle racer. Following a serious accident on April 3, 1977 at the Imola 200, he remained in a coma and died three days later in Bologna hospital at the age of 21.[2]
In 1976 Evans make his debut in the world championship.[3] The first race he took part in was the French Grand Prix, racing the Bugatti Circuit in the 250 class. Evans qualified second[5] but on the day of the race he was accused by Eric Offenstadt and Bernard Fau of racing with a 350 cc machine and the two French riders who tried to chase him off the grid.[3][5] Evans had only used a 350 during Friday practice, whilst waiting for the arrival of the 250, to familiarise himself with the circuit.[3] He had told other rider of this who raised no objections, but had failed to notify the stewards. As there was no evidence that he had used a 350 during Saturday's qualifying, the stewards gave the green light for him to race. Evans retired on lap 5 due to a mechanical problem.[5] At the Bol d'Or he dominated for the first three quarters of an hour setting the lap record, but due to mechanical problems with the Yamaha TZ700 was forced to retire. At the 400 miles of Thruxton he was co-rider with Jean-Claude Chemarin, replacing the injured Christian Leon. On a works Honda 941, Chemarin/Evans finished second, just one minute behind Christian Huguet and Roger Ruiz, also on a factory Honda.[3]
1977 Season
In 1977 Evans was going to take part in the whole season of Formula 750 and the Transatlantic Trophy.[3] At the Daytona 200 he started in 13th position and immediately took command of the race but, probably due to excessive enthusiasm, he lost control of the bike and crashed at the fourth corner, eventually finishing in eighth position.[6]
Fatal accident
On April 3, 1977, at the Imola 200, Evans was in third position when, due to a seizure at the Tamburello curve, he was thrown from his bike and, rolling for about fifty meters, hit the straw bales that served as protection at the edge of the circuit.[3] According to the journalist Giancarlo Cevenini, if Evans had worn a fiberglass helmet he would have been saved, as the impact was excessively violent. Evans, however, due to the sponsor, had to race with an ABS helmet.[3] Evans was unconscious and was taken to Bologna Hospital, where he died on April 6.[3]
Another American rider who took part in the Imola 200 and a contemporary of Evans, Randy Cleek, was killed in a road accident returning from the race.[2]
References
^"Motorsport Memorial - Pat Evans". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ ab"Not forgotten - Randy Cleek and Pat Evans". Australian Motorcycle News. May 13, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ abcdefghi. pilotos-muertos.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^. superbikeplanet.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ abc. jumpingjack.nl. (in Dutch). Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^. jumpingjack.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
January 27, 2023
evans, motorcyclist, patrick, michael, evans, cajon, california, april, 1955, bologna, april, 1977, american, motorcycle, racer, following, serious, accident, april, 1977, imola, remained, coma, died, three, days, later, bologna, hospital, evansbornpatrick, mi. Patrick Michael Pat Evans El Cajon California April 28 1955 Bologna April 6 1977 1 was an American motorcycle racer Following a serious accident on April 3 1977 at the Imola 200 he remained in a coma and died three days later in Bologna hospital at the age of 21 2 Pat EvansBornPatrick Michael Evans 1955 04 28 April 28 1955El Cajon California USDiedApril 6 1977 1977 04 06 aged 21 Bologna ItalyMotorcycle racing career statistics250cc World ChampionshipActive years1976 1977ManufacturersYamahaStarts Wins Podiums Poles F laps Points3 3 Contents 1 Career 1 1 1976 Season 1 2 1977 Season 1 2 1 Fatal accident 2 ReferencesCareer EditEvans finished 59th on a Yamaha TZ700 in the 1974 Daytona 200 3 4 1976 Season Edit In 1976 Evans make his debut in the world championship 3 The first race he took part in was the French Grand Prix racing the Bugatti Circuit in the 250 class Evans qualified second 5 but on the day of the race he was accused by Eric Offenstadt and Bernard Fau of racing with a 350 cc machine and the two French riders who tried to chase him off the grid 3 5 Evans had only used a 350 during Friday practice whilst waiting for the arrival of the 250 to familiarise himself with the circuit 3 He had told other rider of this who raised no objections but had failed to notify the stewards As there was no evidence that he had used a 350 during Saturday s qualifying the stewards gave the green light for him to race Evans retired on lap 5 due to a mechanical problem 5 At the Bol d Or he dominated for the first three quarters of an hour setting the lap record but due to mechanical problems with the Yamaha TZ700 was forced to retire At the 400 miles of Thruxton he was co rider with Jean Claude Chemarin replacing the injured Christian Leon On a works Honda 941 Chemarin Evans finished second just one minute behind Christian Huguet and Roger Ruiz also on a factory Honda 3 1977 Season Edit In 1977 Evans was going to take part in the whole season of Formula 750 and the Transatlantic Trophy 3 At the Daytona 200 he started in 13th position and immediately took command of the race but probably due to excessive enthusiasm he lost control of the bike and crashed at the fourth corner eventually finishing in eighth position 6 Fatal accident Edit On April 3 1977 at the Imola 200 Evans was in third position when due to a seizure at the Tamburello curve he was thrown from his bike and rolling for about fifty meters hit the straw bales that served as protection at the edge of the circuit 3 According to the journalist Giancarlo Cevenini if Evans had worn a fiberglass helmet he would have been saved as the impact was excessively violent Evans however due to the sponsor had to race with an ABS helmet 3 Evans was unconscious and was taken to Bologna Hospital where he died on April 6 3 Another American rider who took part in the Imola 200 and a contemporary of Evans Randy Cleek was killed in a road accident returning from the race 2 References Edit Motorsport Memorial Pat Evans www motorsportmemorial org Retrieved April 30 2021 a b Not forgotten Randy Cleek and Pat Evans Australian Motorcycle News May 13 2017 Retrieved April 30 2021 a b c d e f g h i Pat Evans Su favorito pilotos muertos com in Spanish Archived from the original on January 12 2020 Retrieved April 30 2021 Official results 1974 Daytona 200 superbikeplanet com Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved April 30 2021 a b c Grand Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden 1976 heden jumpingjack nl in Dutch Archived from the original on April 3 2015 Retrieved April 30 2021 Daytona 200 jumpingjack nl in Dutch Archived from the original on October 25 2014 Retrieved April 30 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pat Evans motorcyclist amp oldid 1091444353, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
