The Crowe Performance British Superbike Championship (BSB) team have led tributes to its fallen rider Chrissy Rouse following his death on Thursday [6 October].
Rouse passed away just days before what would have been his 27th birthday [today - 10 October] after succumbing to head injuries sustained in an accident on lap one of the third race held at Donington Park, the penultimate round of the season.
National Superstock 1000 Champion in 2020, Rouse had been coming towards the conclusion of what would have been his first full season in the Superbike class.
Competing aboard a BMW M 1000 RR prepared by Crowe Performance - helmed by TT racer Phil Crowe and the outfit with which he clinched his SSTK 1000 title - a statement from the team led poignant tributes to its rider and expressed its deepest shock at his passing.
In an obituary posted to the official BSB website, MSV Director Jonathan Palmer added:
"I and the rest of the BSB team at MSV are deeply saddened that Chrissy lost his life following the accident at Donington Park last weekend and extend our profound sympathies to his family for their devastating loss.
“Chrissy first came to my attention when he won the Superstock 1000 championship in 2020 and thoroughly deserved his place on the elite BSB grid, where he was learning fast. Not only was Chrissy a great talent, he was also a very popular man and will be missed enormously by the whole BSB world as well of course by his own family and friends.
“All of us competing in motorsport appreciate the risks involved despite our greatest efforts to keep bike racing as safe as possible, but nevertheless when accidents like this occur it is such a desperately cruel blow.”
The shock of Rouse’s passing is echoed across the motorcycling community in social media posts among fellow BSB riders, who took the time to share moving tributes to their fallen counterpart.
Gutted it was a pleasure to know you and share a track with you champ. RIP @ChrissyRouse pic.twitter.com/rKxdI3medF
— PeTTer Hickman (@peterhickman60) October 6, 2022
Absolutely devastating news. such a great lad with an amazing future in and out of racing. You will be missed but all Chrissy. pic.twitter.com/x6o9mX51lS
— Tommy Bridewell (@tommybridewell) October 6, 2022
Honda rider Tom Neave also expressed his condolences of the rider that defeated him in their season-long SSTK 1000 title tussle in 2000.
Visordown and CMG wish to send our sincerest condolences to Chrissy's family and loved ones at this difficult time
