Kristian Daniel Sr., the father of American road racer Kristian Daniel Jr., was discovered deceased in a tunnel inundated by hurricane-force storm systems that struck Catalonia. He was 43 years old.
Just last week, the younger Daniel, who has competed across Europe for several years, had signed a contract to compete in the Moto3 World Championship with KTM. The family had relocated from Los Angeles to Spain several years ago to facilitate his son’s racing career on the continent.
According to reports from Spanish media, authorities located the elder Daniel very close to the van that father and son used daily for motorcycle training. The vehicle was stranded inside a flooded tunnel in Les Franqueses del Vallès in Barcelona. Family members had reported him missing the day before.
“I know you probably won’t be able to read this, and you don’t know how hard and surreal it is for me to write this message. But I want you to know that you should be proud. You gave me everything I need to be a great person,” Daniel Jr. posted on social media. “I would have loved to celebrate our successes, and it’s not fair that you were taken from me just as we were starting the real work. But it seems your time has come, and I want you to see me, Dad, because I’m going to go far. I will never give up, just like you taught me.”
