A teenage motocross star has tragically died life after losing control of their bike during a race.
Gabriela Valentini was competing at the Parana State Velocross Championship in Brazil on March 5 when the accident occurred.
The bike enthusiast, aged just 17, was hit by her spinning motorcycle after flying over the handlebars.
Spectators had witnessed Valentini’s bike wobbling out of control just seconds before.
The medical team who were present at the race in the town of Lapa attempted first aid to save her life as she lay unconscious on the dirt track.
She was then rushed to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries.
The Parana State Motorcycling Federation issued a statement following the tragedy.
It said: “Gabriela leaves her name in the gallery of winning pilots in the discipline, in Parana and in Brazil.
“The organisation, through its president Gilberto Rosa, expresses at this moment of loss and pain, standing in solidarity with family, friends, and admirers.
“Faced with this tragedy, we make ourselves available to help with whatever is within our reach. May God comfort everyone’s heart.”
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Valentini was buried in her home town of Curitiba on March 7.
She had accrued an Instagram following of just under 12,000 with her enthusiasm for the sport.
Velocross originates from Brazil in the early 2000s and has since spread around the world, reaching as far as the United States and Europe.
Also known as VX, it is a type of off-road motorcycle racing.
It combines elements of motocross and supercross.
England recently saw its first fully electric indoor motocross track open in Cumbria.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
