His name was Alex Harvill and he was a motorcycle rider.
He was 28 years old, the father of two young children and he died this Friday attempting a world record in motorcycle jumping.
The kind of exercise you see from time to time in summer stunt shows.
The American's record attempt was fatal to him.
The accident took place at the Moses Lake airport in the northwestern United States.
The rider was doing a preparation jump from a springboard and fell too short.
It crashed violently into the landing ramp.
According to local media reports, Alex Harvill was thrown over his handlebars in shock, finishing his run several yards away.
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I am shocked by the news of Alex Harvill's passing, current world record holder Robbie Maddison wrote on social media.
He had flown a motorcycle farther than anyone else and was setting a new world record today when he paid the ultimate price.
My heart is broken for his family.
"
Alex Harvill was known for various motorcycle records. He was training to establish the one for the longest jump on a motorcycle, from a ramp. The mark which counts in the Guinness Book is currently owned by Robbie Maddison: 106 m, carried out in March 2008. A professional motocross rider, the young man himself held a world record for motorcycle jumping set in 2013 after having climbed 90.69 m from one dirt ramp to another, according to Guinness World Records.