Sixteen-year-old motocross prodigy Aidan Zingg died Saturday after a crash during the Mammoth Mountain MX event in California.
Zingg, hailing from Hemet, California, was competing in an invitational race on June 28 when he fell in a corner, TMZ notes.
The motocross outlet DirtbikeLover states he was “run over by multiple bikes and remained unconscious on the track for two laps” after the crash before officials stopped the race.
His injuries were later confirmed to be fatal.
As a standout member of Team Green, Zingg had recently transitioned to professional racing, backed by a package of sponsors that included Oakley, Bell, and Renthal, People notes.
In 2024, he secured the AMA Amateur National Championship in the Supermini 2 class and finished second in Supermini 1.
He had qualified for the prestigious AMA Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch annually since 2019 and was set to step up to the 250cc ranks in 2025.
Veteran rider Kris Keefer posted on X: “Heavy day at Mammoth Mountain MX. Please put your prayers and thoughts towards the Zingg family.”
“It’s with an extremely heavy heart we report on the passing of young Kawasaki prospect Aidan Zingg 💔,” Racer X Illustrated posted on Facebook. “Please keep the entire Zingg family in your thoughts and prayers. Godspeed Aidan Zingg 2009-2025.”
Donn Maeda of Swapmoto also spoke of the death.
“I interviewed him for our race series years ago when he was on a 65 and when I asked him how long it’d be until he beat his dad, he smirked and said, ‘Soon, I’m sure.’ After that, he always went out of his way to say hello, even recently when he grew into a fast big bike rider…you know; the age when teens get cocky and cool,” he said. “Not Aidan. I’m in Illinois at the Mini Monsters at Lincoln Trail, and I have many memories of him at these races.”
In 2024 alone, Zingg had podium finishes at major amateur events and a national championship under his belt.
At just 16, Zingg had already broken through, earning a spot among the sport’s most promising young talents.
