Jason McRoy (26 November 1971 – 24 August 1995) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

professional

mountain bike A mountain bike (MTB) or mountain bicycle is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling. Mountain bikes share some similarities with other bicycles, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain, which ...

racer. McRoy was the first British rider to join an American professional mountain bike team – Specialized/2 Calorie Quest – and was a UK National downhill champion.

Cycling career

Despite being born with a hole in his heart, and enduring a childhood beset by illness, McRoy developed an early love of cycling. Following childhood success in

BMX BMX, an abbreviation for bicycle motocross or bike motocross, is a cycle sport performed on BMX bikes, either in competitive BMX racing or freestyle BMX, or else in general street or off-road recreation. History BMX began during the earl ...

racing – curtailed by a serious injury to his knee, and a consequent period off his bike to recuperate – McRoy first tried downhill

racing at age 17. In his first race, despite still being registered as a Junior, his time was sufficiently quick for him to take third place overall. McRoy rose to international prominence after taking second place in the prestigious

Mammoth Kamikaze The Mammoth Kamikaze or Kamikaze Downhill is one of the oldest and fastest downhill cycling races. Track Unlike typical downhill courses of the 21st century, the race follows in essence the path of the traditional access fireroad. However, whi ...

race in 1993, the first year that the event was held to the 'Eliminator' format. It was following this success that Specialized USA signed him for the 1994 season.

Death and legacy

He was killed in a motorcycle accident on the A628 Woodhead Pass between Manchester and Sheffield, England. There is currently a memorial up on this road where flowers and banners have been placed. In 2009, he was inducted into the

British Cycling Hall of Fame The British Cycling Hall of Fame was established in 2009 as part of British Cycling's 50th anniversary celebrations. On 17 December 2009, the names of fifty one people involved in cycling to be inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame wer ...

Results

* 2nd Reebok Eliminator (1993) *

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national downhill champion (1993)

References

1971 births 1995 deaths English male cyclists Downhill mountain bikers Road incident deaths in England Motorcycle road incident deaths Place of birth missing English mountain bikers {{England-cycling-bio-stub