One of the founders of the French BUD Racing GP squad, Sebastian Dasse, passed away suddenly today after  being taken ill. Sebastian, the suspension expert in the team and one of the best-known characters in the GP paddock, set up BUD with his brother Stephane who manages the race team.

Sebastian, who was just 37 years old, was in a wheelchair after being paralysed in an motocross accident decades ago.

A statement from the family reads: “It is with great emotion and deep sadness that the Dassé family announces the sudden death of their son, their brother, their uncle Sébastien, who passed away on January 4 at the age of 37, after his state of health was suddenly aggravated. 

“Co-manager of the BUD Racing team, working at the highest level alongside his brother Stéphane, Sébastien was an emblematic figure of the French motocross. He held a special place in the heart of the family business and left behind a big gap.  The Dassé family will later communicate the date of his funeral.”

We pass on out deepest sypathies to his family and friends at this difficult time.