FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: I lost a friend at the track on Sunday. Yesterday I got to race my TZ250 for the first time since the end of 2003. It was a blast! I was part of an epic 13-lap battle with eight other guys. We passed each other everywhere, went back-and-forth, side-by-side, inside passes and outside passes, hammer-and-tongs, tooth-and-nail, all that stuff. I don’t know the numbers or names of the others, I was too busy to pay attention to anything other than going just as fast as I could. This race was so fun because we all raced clean and smart. I have found that people who race well make great friends. That is why I know that Jesus Amezcua was my friend even though I did not know him personally. Jesus was one of the guys in my battle. I saw the crash from very close, I know that my friend went out trying hard and riding as fast as he could. Randy Renfrow had a toe transplanted onto his hand to replace one of his thumbs, which had to be amputated after being smashed in a crash. At a party in his honor at another track one of the other 250 GP guys, John France, coined a phrase “Toes Up Randy!” while giving the thumbs-up sign. Toes Up Jesus! Ed Sorbo Mentone, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Jesus Amezcua was a good guy, and a good rider, the kind of rider you didn’t mind racing with wheel-to-wheel because you knew he wouldn’t do anything to put you (or himself) in great danger. He really enjoyed his racing, and was getting faster every time I saw him. I talked to him Saturday evening, and on Sunday he died doing what he loved. Godspeed, Jesus. Godspeed. John Ulrich WSMC #29 Lake Elsinore, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: It’s hard for me to put into words how great the loss of my friend Jesus is to me. Every race weekend is great fun with great friends, but the energy that Jesus brought made the weekend that much greater. He would normally show up Friday night and get the pit set-up and put out cones to mark our spots. A spot next to Jesus was prime because you were in the heart of our pit area. There was such a good energy about him that you couldn’t help but love him. His laugh and his smile were contagious. He always made me feel like we were a team and would always strategize with me before the races. It was funny because I couldn’t keep up with him anymore, but he still included me in his grand scheme anyways. I will deeply miss you Jesus, you were a great racer, a great sportsman, and a true friend. Derek Dutt WSMC #721 San Diego, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: It was with extreme shock and sadness that I learned of the passing of friend and fellow competitor Jesus Amezcua after the Roadracing World 250/50. I had come to know Jesus just this year, having raced with him at WSMC and USGPRU events. I think it’s true that, even as racing goes, the two-stroke contingent is a pretty tight one; as we all come to depend on each other – be it for competition, comraderie or the occasional part. It’s a great feeling to know that we can all battle so hard on the track and yet come back to the pits and come together with tales of the race and good times. Jesus will be sorely missed on both sides of “the gold pit wall.” Godspeed to a great man, a great competitor and a friend that will be truely missed by many. Vincent Rolleri WSMC #224 Huntington Beach, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I still sit here today in disbelief and shock that the person I shared “2-stroke alley” with is gone. Jesus was the most enthusiastic racer I knew and he wasn’t just enthusiastic about his racing, he was supportive of everyone. He always had an encouraging word, spare part, tool and especially a smile for everyone. He truly loved racing and gave it 100 percent. Half the reason I show up each month is to hang out in the pits with guys, it just won’t be the same without him. We will miss you Jesus, Godspeed. Steve Lambrick WSMC #545 El Paso, Texas