CANTON, Ga. (BRAIN) — Brian Drebber, a longtime announcer for bicycle races and other events, died Thursday after colliding with a deer while riding a motorcycle here.
Drebber, 67, was best known in recent years for announcing at motorcycle races. For years he was also an announcer at cycling events including the Coors Classic. He also was the race announcer in the American Flyers film.
Wayne Rainey, the president of MotoAmerica, announced his death, saying, “The entire MotoAmerica family is saddened today by the loss of Brian.
“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.”
According to MotoAmerica, 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.
He also did television commentary at cycling races including the professional road world championships, the Olympic road race and track events.
Tim Blumenthal, the president of PeopleForBikes, said he worked with Drebber at "40 or 50" ESPN cycling shows and at a couple of Olympic Games. "Brian had a very big, unforgettable voice. You could hear it and feel it to the core from blocks away as you walked towards the finish line of a big bike race," Blumenthal said.
Drebber is survived by his fiancee, Mara Yetter, daughter, Robin von Drebber, and granddaughter, Kylie von Drebber.
