We were all saddened by the news on Sunday that Australian Motocrosser Andrew McFarlane had passed away due to injuries received during practice Round 3 of the Australian Motocross Championship at Broadford, Victoria.

Queenslander McFarlane (aka Sharky), 33, suffered head injuries when he crashed after becoming airborne on a practice lap at the State Motorcycle Sports Complex at Broadford, north of Melbourne.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said an ambulance was stationed at the track and paramedics worked for about an hour to try to revive him, but McFarlane died at the scene.

It was 10 years after making his World Motocross GP debut at Broadford, for JDR Motorex KTM rider, Andrew McFarlane. Scoring a wildcard ride at the World MX GP round held at Broadford in 2000, McFarlane put the field of experienced World Championship riders on notice leading for the majority of the race before finishing in third place.

Having secured an international factory ride, the Brisbane local then spent a year based in Italy, riding the World MX GP Circuit before returning to Australia for the Broadford GP round in 2001, this time going one better and placing second to 10 times World Champion, Stefan Everts.

McFarlane was a former Australian Motocross and Supercross Champion. He also finished second in the World Motocross Championship. MacFarlane had recently returned from racing in America, riding for such teams as Yamaha of Troy, Rockstar Suzuki and Motosport Kawasaki. McFarlane was to race the Australian scene before retiring. He is survived by his wife Nat (Natalie) and young daughter Tayla.

Recently McFarlane said: "It was funny when I realised I'd been riding a bike well before some of these guys were even born ! At the first round this year I had '27 years' written on my pants and my teammate Tye Simmonds asked me what it meant. I explained what it was and his response was 'Dude! You've been riding longer than I've been alive!', now whenever he sees me he says 'hey old man' so now I call him 'young pup' but there's a lot of respect there.

R.I.P. Andrew McFarlane #7

JDR Motorsports KTM's tribute to Andrew McFarlane.

Sunday 2nd May 2010 became the darkest day in JDR Motorsports history with the death of sporting legend Andrew McFarlane at The Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals held at Broadford.

Andrew McFarlane was not only a legend on the track but off. His commitment to the sport, to each member of the team, to his family and his wife Nat and daughter Tayla, Andrew was a true legend in every way. His death has shattered the JDR Motorex KTM racing team, who are left reeling with the horror of what has occurred, particularly to someone who has raced on the worlds best tracks, and was one of the genuinely good guys of the sport.

After two weeks of solid preparation, Andrew being the ultimate professional was in peak condition both mentally and physically. Working alongside of his father Ron, who was his mentor and mechanic they had the KTM motorcycle exactly where they wanted the bike to be, and were very confident about the weekend at Broadford, as it was here that Andrew had started his International career ten years prior.

The entire team of JDR Motorex KTM have been personally and professionally helped by Andrew along the way.

Derek & Jay Rynenberg