RIP Longtime Race Announcer Brian Drebber

By John Burns August 23, 2018 0

If you’ve been to an AMA, MotoAmerica, or US World Superbike round in the last 30 or so years, you’ve heard Brian Drebber doing the trackside play-by-play. The 67-year old Drebber was riding his bike, “Franken Wing,” (which he suggested yesterday I should include in today’s “Top 10 Motorcycles for People Over 50”) to the airport from his home in Cherokee County, Georgia, when he struck a deer and crashed. The Cherokee Ledger says Brian was conscious when rescuers arrived on scene, but later died at the hospital.

Mr. Drebber had a big heart, a kind word and a story for everyone.

Moto America sent this Press Release:

Brian Drebber, 1950-2018
MotoAmerica Announcer Passes In Motorcycle Accident

COSTA MESA, CA (August 23, 2018) – Longtime motorcycle race announcer Brian Drebber passed away today, August 23, from injuries sustained after a collision with a deer. Drebber was en route to the airport on his motorcycle from his home in Georgia to fly to Pittsburgh to commentate on this weekend’s MotoAmerica round at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.

MotoAmerica announcer Brian Drebber passed away on Thursday from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.| Photo By Brian J. Nelson

Drebber was 68 years old.

“The entire MotoAmerica family is saddened today by the loss of Brian,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Brian had a passion for our sport that was evident in his announcing. He was a big part of our paddock and he will be missed.”

Drebber was a professional cyclist in the 1970s and that’s where he got his start in announcing. He began announcing and commentating on motorcycle racing in the late 1970s and has been the lead track announcer for MotoAmerica since it took over the AMA Superbike Series in 2015.

Drebber is survived by his fiancée, Mara Yetter, daughter, Robin von Drebber, and granddaughter, Kylie von Drebber.