‘His passion for the sport was undeniable': GoFundMe helping family devastated by Niagara motorcycle racer's death

Hamilton Spectator

a day ago

A GoFundMe account launched following the death of a Canadian championship motorcycle racer on the weekend in Welland has already raised more than twice its original goal.
A target of $30,000 was initially set to support a family left devastated by the death of Tyler Seguin at age 29 during the final race on Saturday night's program at Welland County Speedway.
As of mid-afternoon Tuesday, more than $64,500 had been donated toward the
campaign's new target of $90,000
.
In addition to funeral expenses for the Welland native, the money will help Seguin's partner, Jenna Price, and their two-year-old son Reid face challenges moving forward.
'They are absolutely devastated and aren't sure how they're going to continue on without him,' wrote Sam on the GoFundMe page organized by Price. 'They're facing a devastating, awful loss.'
She wrote the intro on behalf of Price, 'my best friend.'
'He was an amazing father and partner to Jenna and Reid.'
In its tribute on Facebook, Merrittville Speedway in Thorold said Seguin will be remembered as 'a fierce competitor, a true talent and a respected member of the flat track racing family.'
Tyler Seguin, No. 22 in this photo from 2011, was a familiar face in the winner's circle at Welland County Speedway. He died at the track Saturday night.
'His passion for the sport was undeniable, and his presence on the track will be sorely missed. The entire Merrittville Speedway family extends its deepest condolences to Tyler's family, friends and the entire flat track racing community during this incredibly difficult time.'
American Harley-Davidson posted on Facebook it was 'deeply saddened' about the racing community's loss.
'We watched Tyler grow up at the track and he ended up turning into one hell of a rider, but even a better dude. You'll be missed, Tyler.'
Welland County Motorcycle Club, which owns and operates Welland County Speedway, paid tribute to a rider whose No. 22 was a familiar sight in the winner's circle at the quarter-mile clay track on Netherby Road.
'Tyler has been part of the Welland County Speedway family since he first took to the dirt at just four years old,' the club wrote in a Facebook post. 'Over the past 25 years, we watched him grow into a fierce competitor, a Canadian national champion, and a Welland County Speedway track champion.
'The impact of Tyler's loss will be felt deeply by everyone who has ever called this track home.'
This Saturday's program has been cancelled but it has yet to be determined whether more race nights will be impacted by the speedway's first racing fatality since 1979.
'In light of the heartbreaking events this past weekend, Welland County Speedway will not be holding a race on Saturday, June 14,' the club said in a statement. 'We believe it is important for families, friends, fans and track staff to take some time to grieve and be with one another away from the track.
'We want to be respectful of the tremendous loss that the Seguin family and racing community have just experienced.'
The 2025 racing schedule at the motorcycle track has nine programs in all. Last Saturday's was the second of the season.
Though Seguin's injuries were suffered on a track during a race and not on a public road, Niagara Regional Police were called into investigate.
'On a very general basis, any time there is a fatality as a result of a motor vehicle, private property or public, our traffic reconstruction unit (TRU) would be called in and take over the investigation,' media information officer Const. Rich Hingley wrote in an email on Tuesday.
The Standard has left a message with the TRU on the status of the investigation.
Two laps were remaining in the 10-lap 450 Expert feature, the premier race on Saturday's program, when Seguin got 'tangled up' with other racers in the field of eight.
Welland County Motorcycle Club president Jack Wilson said in an interview Sunday the accident happened when Seguin was in fifth place.
'He took the inside and they got tangled up,' Wilson said. 'There's no fault, no blame, it's simply a racing accident.
'One guy is holding his line, the other guy goes underneath.'
One other rider suffered minor injuries.
'He's fine,' Wilson said. 'He fell, bumped his head, but he's OK.'
Seguin, who died at the scene, is the first fatality at the track since Bob Harpwood was killed at age 20 in 1979.
Mourners attending Tyler Seguin's funeral service Saturday at Pleasantview Funeral Home & Cemetery are asked to bring their motorcycles.
A post on his partner Jenna Price's Facebook page said there is a plan to line the parking lot ahead of the 1 p.m. service so funeral directors can arrange parking.
Two visitations will be held Friday — 2-4 p.m., 6-8 p.m. — for the popular flat track motorcycle racer who died of injuries suffered in the final race of Saturday night's program at Welland County Speedway. The Welland native was 29.
In 2023, Seguin won the Canadian Flat Track championship.