Vale Andrew McFarlane

It's the cruellest of ironies: the circuit which helped launch Andrew McFarlane onto the world motocross stage has now tragically claimed his life at age 33.

The Queenslander suffered fatal head injuries after crashing from his factory KTM during practice for round three of the Australian Motocross Championship in Broadford (Vic) on Sunday, May 2.

Paramedics worked for about an hour to try to revive him, but McFarlane died at the scene. The round was abandoned after the incident, which occurred at about 9.30am.

McFarlane was a multiple Australian motocross champion before he and his then girlfriend Natalie went to live in Europe in 2001 after he picked up a plum gig with Yamaha to contest the Motocross World Championship.

Three years later, he became just the third Australian to win a world motocross grand prix, joining Jeff Leisk and Chad Reed in the select group.

McFarlane's crowning glory in Europe was his second place in the 2005 MX2 title on a Yamaha, after which he flew across the Atlantic to base himself in America.

But it was a frustrating period in the massively competitive American cauldron, with a slew of injuries preventing him from displaying the free-wheeling form which made him such a star on the Continent.

After nine years abroad, McFarlane returned to Australia last year and was an excellent third in the open title behind Jay Marmont and Cheyne Boyd.

He was running fifth in this year's championship ahead of Broadford, and was looking forward to turning back the clock at a circuit where he enjoyed podium success during Motocross World Championship rounds in 2000 and 2001.

As one of the local wildcards, McFarlane stunned the internationals in 2000 when he piloted a Kawasaki hybrid - a KX500 engine shoehorned into a KX250 frame - to a swashbuckling third place after leading the race until two corners from home.

His searing performance helped him secure a ride in Europe, and he returned to Broadford in 2001 and finished runner-up to Belgian legend Stefan Everts.

During his career, McFarlane also represented Australia seven times in the Motocross of Nations team event, where he was always one of the automatic selections when he was at the peak of his powers.

McFarlane, who was universally known as "Sharky", is survived by his wife Natalie and a young daughter. RIP Andrew.

The Bikesales Network will publish funeral details as they come to hand.