13 year-old Peter Lenz was a rising star in the U.S. Grand Prix. Despite listing his profession on the Grand Prix website as “kid,” Lenz was well on his way to becoming a professional motorbike racer. He had already won 9 national championships and 9 regional titles.
Photo by PeterLenz.com
It was gearing up to be just another Sunday for Lenz in the youth racing circuit, which allows riders 12-18 years old to operate vehicles that can top 120 mph.
The track conditions were slick at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway due to excess humidity in the region. The race was still set to go on.
Peter Lenz crashed his bike in a warm-up lap, and was struck by 12 year-old Xavier Zayat. Several hours later, Lenz was announced dead. The Marion Country coroner’s office said he died from blunt force trauma. Life over. Before it really began.
But what a start it was. The 4’11 81 pound Lenz earned an “expert” license from the American Federation of Motorcyclists at age 11. In March of 2009, he became the younger rider ever to win an AFM race. This year, in the U.S. Grand Prix Racers Union series, Lenz had 4 wins and 5 podium finishes.
Chief steward Stewart Aitken-Cade said the incident is the first of its kind in “nine years…that’s a tremendous safety record.” Yeah, one minor killed every nine years is a percentage to celebrate.
Peter Lenz died doing what he loved. But most 13 year-olds love playing baseball in the backyard or attending their first “girl/boy party.”
Should a 13 year-old who weighs 81 pounds soaking wet be allowed to operate a vehicle that can race well north of 100 mph?
Proponents of the youth racing circuit say that motorbike racing can cause fatality, just as football, wrestling, and other sports can. True. But let’s use some common sense. Who stands a better chance? The 13 year-old who gets tackled while wearing pads, or the 13 year-old who gets run over by a motorbike on a slippery track? Take your pick.
Lenz’s father posted on Peter’s facebook that, “Peter passed away early this morning when he was apparently struck by another rider. He passed doing what he loved and had his go fast face on as he pulled onto the track. The world lost one of its brightest lights today. God Bless Peter and the other rider involved. #45 is on another road we can only hope to reach. Miss you kiddo.”
“Kiddo.” That’s what Peter Lenz was, a kid. If rules were different, he could have been a kid for just a little while longer. If Peter’s father said, “no son, you’ll wait a little longer until you race motorcycles professionally,” Peter would still be here today.
Why not wait until you’re 16 to professionally race? At 81 pounds, 13 year-old Peter didn’t weigh enough to ride most roller coasters at Six Flags.
But apparently he weighed enough to race motorcycles at 120 mph on slippery race tracks. A tragedy is a once in a lifetime occurrence. This? It was only a matter of time.
