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Motocross has lost one of its living legends with the death of Aaron Pace on Friday.

A small memorial at the entrance of the track included Pace's Kawasaki and a picture of the former 125cc champion.

Pace died on December 29 when his bike was involved in a single vehicle accident near Collector's Hill.

Otis Ingham said: "He was one of Bermuda's most talented riders ever. He won many championships. When he rode he was always up front. He was a very special rider who will be missed by all."

Ingham described Pace's style as one of 'all or nothing' as he was determined to be the one leading the pack.

It was Ingham's idea to set up a tribute to the fallen rider at the Motocross track for the New Year's Day races and said his death "was a big loss" to the motocross community.

Ingham added that Pace was very good at a young age.

Former motocross president Ras Mykkal said that Pace "was very easy going. He was very talented - a natural talent on a bike - very, very skillful. He and a bike went together. He was a gifted motocross racer. He had talent I wish I had."

He said that at an early age Pace already had people talking about his riding ability.

"He had a reputation for himself before he ever set foot at Coney Island. His father at age 11 had bought him a Kawasaki 80 and he was learning how to ride it in Devonshire at Pig's Field.

"Long before he reached Coney Island, word reached the motocross community that there's this young rider coming that's going to be good - the guy could ride."

Mykkal said he first met the young Pace with his father at the field.

He added that Pace didn't dominate right away, but there was a learning curve as he had to ride with competitors, deal with bigger jumps and a crowd watching him.

"As he rose through the ranks and he came up against the likes of Corey Smith and Stevie Doyling. His competition got stiffer."

Mykkal believed that Pace could have been greater than he was if he had given himself more to training instead of relying upon his God-given talent.

"He never trained, but he was so naturally talented on a bike. In his later years in the first half of a race Aaron would be out front and mixing with the best, but as the race wore on and he got exhausted, he would fall off the pace.[[In-content Ad]]

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