Long-time MotoGP 250cc team manager Dieter Stappert has died.
Stappert suffered a heart attack on his way the British Grand Prix in June and been in a coma ever since. He passed away last night.
Stappert was, until 1977 editor of Swiss Motorsport magazine "Powerslide", now known as "Motorsport Aktuell". From 1977-1985 with BMW Motorsport, 1980-1985 Competitions Director. Responsible for BMW's F1-program that resulted in Nelson Piquet winning the F1-World Championship in 1983, and also responsible for the re-organisation of BMW's Touring Car program. From 1986 to 1996 Motorsports Manager for HB, at the same time acting also as Team-Manager of the HB 250 team.
Stappert had been in charge of the Yamaha Pertamina Indonesia squad this year. Kino Contreras, Team Principal, said: "I am so sad because of Dieter´s death. Even in his difficult situation, with all of us a little traumatized for this end, those are very difficult moments for all the Team. Most of us knew Dieter for many years, mainly the German guys who were working with him many years and for me personally has been a very sad situation, but that´s life, sometimes so hard."
