An up-and-coming teenage motorcycle racer has died after spending over a week fighting for his life following a crash. 

Bayne Nantz, 17, was involved in an accident in a Flat Track race at Peoria TT in Bartonville, Illinois on August 22. He was taking part in the Dan Bromley Memorial, a race honoring another competitor who died in a crash earlier this year. 

His family shared in a heartbreaking post that he passed away on the night of September 1 after battling an awful list of injuries including a ‘severe traumatic brain injury and bleeding’ from which he was not expected to survive.

The teenager also broke his hip and pelvis, suffered a lacerated bladder, dislocated elbow and shoulder and bruised lung and heart after the awful crash while leading his race. 

His family described his fight for life as ‘the worst experience of our lives’ and said ‘it put us through hell’ having ‘said goodbye’ multiple times in hospital before he passed away 10 days after the crash. 

In just May this year, American Flat Track shared: ‘Bayne Nantz is a name to remember’ after he won the AFT ProSport 450 ThrottleFest race. In a GoFundMe page set up when he was just 13, his family said Bayne had ‘dreams of going pro in the American Flat Track Series, and has proven the natural ability to make that reality’. 

Bayne Nantz, 17, died in hospital after a crash in Peoria last month left him fighting for his life

His family shared news of his death in a post on the Nantz Bros Racing page on Facebook, thanking the community for their support in the wake of the awful crash and detailing the heart-wrenching days that followed in OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois. 

The family wrote: ‘Bayne has been fighting for his life in the OSF Children’s Hospital, after extensive injuries sustained in the crash, cared for by some of the most amazing group of nurses. I hope you know how special you all are. 

‘A broken hip and pelvis, lacerated bladder, a dislocated elbow and shoulder, bruised lung and heart, and many scrapes and swollen parts, but the main injury was to his brain. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and bleeding, from which he was not expected to survive.

‘Last night, that injury finally took him from us. This last week and a half has been the worst experience of our lives, and it put us through hell. We said goodbye more than once, as his body nearly gave up several times. 

‘The hospital staff here have worked around the clock to try to save this kind, caring, talented little man, but the insult to his beautiful brain was too much.

‘We decided to give him continued life in the body of others, through Gift of Hope, as an organ donor. Anyone who knows Bayne, will agree that this is exactly what he would do if he could have the say.’

The family also shared his tragic final moments on track, revealing he was ‘on cloud 9’ before his crash and confident he would win the race.

They continued: ‘Last Saturday, Bayne was on cloud 9. He qualified 2nd at the world famous Peoria TT, Dan Bromley Memorial, the pinnacle racing event of his life. 

Nantz was a rising Flat Track star with dreams of reaching the American Flat Track Series

The teenager suffered a severe brain injury among a horrific list of injuries from the crash

‘He was as proud of himself as we were of him. He came back from the last qualifying session with a smile on his face, and said “I feel good, I’m gonna win today.” 

‘We learned in the hospital, surrounded by people that loved him most, that his last memory was pulling up on the starting line, where he looked up to the hillside and saw a sea of loving faces wearing Bayne “the Train” shirts. Being the sweetheart he was, he waved to them all and then pulled the holeshot.

‘We take comfort in knowing that he was surrounded by people that love him, and he knew in that moment how big his fan club really is. He is looking down from Heaven right now seeing just how massive that fan base really is.

‘It is absolutely devastating to say goodbye to our perfect, kind, generous, loving, gentle, intelligent, creative, talented, goofy, hilarious, beautiful little Bayners. 

‘He did the most badass things on a motorcycle, could swing an axe for hours and build a viable shelter at 11,000ft up the mountains, build you a bookshelf with his calloused miniature man hands, and yet he still blew mom and dad a kiss every single day from the school bus window as it drove away. 

‘We will forever dream of his kisses and late night snuggles, watching Seinfeld in bed, pretending to fish while we crack jokes and make fart noises, working on so many projects together, even the trivial little shit like bike maintenance. 

‘We would give anything to look out the window and see Bayne detailing the neighborhoods cars to save up for an electric dirtbike. (What else would he spend his money on?)

‘Bayne was special, tough, wise beyond his years, and somehow still sweet and innocent, and just so damn cool. He is everything that is beautiful in this world, made up of the best little pieces and parts of us, yet he managed to sidestep all the bad. We are proud to call you son and brother, and to have been passengers on this, all-too-short train ride.

‘Bayner Wayners, You made everyone around you smile, and reminded everyone that there is still good in this world. You didn’t know a stranger, and you made the people around you happy, without even trying. We love you with all our hearts and we know that we’ll see you again some day, but not soon enough.’

Nantz’ family shared a heartwrenching tribute to the youngster announcing his death

He was ‘on cloud 9’ before the race and told loved ones he believed he was going to win

American Flat Track shared news of his passing on social media, writing: ‘AMA Pro Racing and the American Flat Track community mourn the passing of AFT ProSport 450 competitor Bayne Nantz.

‘Our deepest condolences are with Bayne’s family, friends and fellow competitors.’ 

Peoria Motorcycle Club, the venue where the crash occurred, wrote on Facebook: ‘Our deepest condolences to the Nantz Bros Racing family. Your Peoria Motorcycle Club family is keeping you close in our thoughts and prayers.’