This is my new and most cherished Husky. I told you all I would let you know how my race went and now, with a very heavy heart, I will. It also ties into how I acquired the bike.

It belonged to my cousin, very best friend and riding partner, Derek Hoffman. There were rumors in this shallow little town that he had died of a drug overdose and I wrote the first part of this to add to his Facebook page but then it led into what will also be read at his memorial service this weekend. Derek did not do drugs and this was written to set the record straight.
"Derek passed away having a heart attack while racing his Husqvarna TE511 dirt bike at Fountain Creek MX Park. I am his cousin and I was there. The track is about 4 miles long and is on natural terrain. We took off together in the same row. I was half way through my second lap and running on a sand bar right off the creek and they had the track blocked off and were leading us around what we thought was an accident. I decided to look back since Derek was on the track too. I saw his bike and ended my race. There were two other riders on the scene and two medics with a Rhino ATV. Derek's bike was laying on top off him in the sand when they found him and the medics said he was holding his chest. They were working very fast and did all they could for him in the field. We loaded Derek onto the back of Rhino and worked our way back to the ambulance in the pits. One medic was driving, the other trying to revive him while we were in motion and I was trying to keep the brush and sticks clear of his head and hold the stretcher still from sliding. It was a very frantic and rough ride...emotions were very high. They put him in the ambulance and called in flight for life, but it was too late.
We spent the night before getting our bikes ready until about midnight. Then, the day of the race, he was very excited and showed no signs of anything wrong. We loaded the bikes and went to the race together. The only sign of anything wrong was the week before when we pre ran the track and he felt a little sick when we were heading back home.
This was just one of our many adventures together, but unfortunately didn't make it through this one . Derek was the very best of all men. Few will miss him more than I. We played hard together and I always just accepted that I would be with him in the end. Very few people knew he had a heart condition and that's the way he wanted it. The doctors said he would never make it to 21. Derek's only flaw was that he was stubborn. He was going to live his life to the fullest for as long as he could and not let anyone tell him his body was not capable. These were his rules....rules his family respected....rules we accepted many years ago."
I later learned that one of the riders at the scene was also on the Rhino in the back left and I never even knew it. I was sitting in the front right and facing to the right holding the stretcher with my right hand and moving brush with my left. This rider was at the scene first and this was also his first race. We spoke with him for the first time yesterday and we are truly grateful this particular man was there. Charlie, Sam (120bluebird), Vika, Big D Motorsport's, CORCS, Gary (the best neighbor in the world), our family thanks you with all our hearts.
Jason
In memory of Derek Hoffman
