A popular 22-year-old motorcycle racer has died following a battle with cancer.

Kyle Pimental, who moved to Bermuda ten years ago with his parents, was a well-known 125cc racer in the Island’s motorcycling circles.

He died after doctors discovered a brain tumour while he was spending Christmas with relatives in Newcastle, England, where he was born. The cancer spread throughout his body, meaning he was too ill to return to Bermuda, and he passed away on July 12.

During his three-year fight against the illness, Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club helped raise cash to pay for his treatment, which included chemotherapy and surgery.

Kyle’s mother Hazel Pimental, 52, and Bermudian father Abel Junior, 57, returned to Newcastle to be by their son’s side for his final moments.

Mrs. Pimental told the Newcastle Chronicle newspaper: “Kyle was a lovely looking lad, tall and all muscle and had never been sick in his life before.

“We all cried when he was diagnosed, but after that he never complained or moaned no matter how ill he was.

“He was determined to fight it and underwent any possible treatment. He even wanted to take part in a clinical trial that would help other people with cancer, but he became too ill. In the end the cancer was just too aggressive.”

His grandfather Edwin Boyd told the paper: “He was a brilliant grandson. He was into bikes and cars and liked to watch the rally racing round Kielder. He knew it might be his last Christmas and so he came home to spend it with his family. While he was ill he never complained. He was very young — 22 is no age and he had so much to look forward to.

“The house is full of cards people have sent with their condolences. Everyone loved him.”

The newspaper reported that Mr. Pimental was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer three years ago. It states he first took ill three days before his graduation at a college in Tennessee. He was told he had just two years to live, but he underwent chemotherapy and surgery.

Mrs Pimental told the Chronicle: “At first the doctors thought he was just a typical college student and was just drinking too much but then he collapsed and they found he had a huge tumour in his pancreas and liver.

“He had aggressive chemo and went into remission for over a year. The doctors couldn’t understand how he seemed so healthy. But in May last year the cancer came back in his brain and they had to operate. There were seven tumours down his spine. But he never gave in and just kept asking for more treatment.”