Dutch motorsport is mourning the death of Romano Hummel, the accomplished grass-track and long-track racer who died in his hometown of Hoogkerk on October 21, 2026. He was 27.
Hummel’s death was reported by OOG Groningen, a local news outlet in the Netherlands. His passing comes less than two months after he announced his retirement from competitive motorsport following a career spanning approximately 23 years.
Known for his success in long-track racing and grass-track competition, Hummel had established himself as one of the Netherlands’ notable riders in the discipline. His achievements included the 2021 Individual Long Track World Championship and three European grass-track titles.
His death has prompted renewed attention to a career marked by championship victories, a determined return to competition after a serious racing accident, and a final decision to step away from the sport to spend more time with his family.
Romano Hummel’s Death Reported in Hoogkerk
According to OOG Groningen, Hummel died on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in Hoogkerk, the Dutch town where he lived.
He was born on January 4, 1999, and was 27 at the time of his death.
The reports reviewed for this article did not establish a cause of death. No explanation should be assumed without a reliable statement from his family or an appropriate authority.
Hummel had only recently concluded his professional racing career. In August 2026, he won his third European grass-track championship in Aduard, near Groningen. He subsequently completed his final commitments before announcing that he would not return to competitive racing.
The timing of his death, so soon after his retirement, has added to the sadness surrounding the news for those who followed his career.
A Racing Career That Began in Childhood
Hummel’s connection to motorsport began at an exceptionally young age. According to OOG Groningen, he first rode a motorcycle when he was three years old, following in the footsteps of his father, who had also competed in grass-track racing.
As he progressed through the sport, Hummel developed into a successful competitor across several classes. During his youth career, he won world titles in both the 125cc and 250cc categories.
In 2015, he moved into the 500cc class, the premier category in grass-track racing. That transition marked an important stage in his development as he began competing at a higher level against established riders.
Over the following years, he collected national and European honours and became a familiar name among followers of long-track and grass-track speedway.
World Champion and European Title Winner
One of the defining moments of Hummel’s career came in 2021, when he won the Individual Long Track World Championship.
The achievement placed him among the leading competitors in a discipline that demands exceptional control, timing, speed, and composure on large oval tracks. Long-track racing differs from conventional speedway in its wider circuits and high speeds, creating distinctive challenges for riders.
Hummel also achieved success in team competition. In 2023, he was part of the Netherlands team that won the Long Track of Nations world title.
His European grass-track record was another major part of his legacy. He won the European championship in 2022 and 2023 before returning to the top of the podium in Aduard in August 2026.
That third European title was particularly meaningful because the event took place close to his hometown and in front of supporters familiar with his career.
OOG Groningen reported that Hummel won approximately 300 international races during his time in motorsport, underlining the scale of his achievements.
Serious Crash and Return to Racing
Hummel’s career also included difficult periods away from the podium.
In September 2024, he suffered a serious crash during a long-track Grand Prix event in Vechta, Germany. According to OOG Groningen, another rider was unable to avoid him after the fall and rode over his helmet.
Hummel was taken to hospital for observation. Although the initial assessment suggested he had avoided severe lasting injuries, the incident contributed to his decision to retire from racing at the time.
His departure did not last permanently. In January 2025, he announced his return to competition.
He subsequently resumed racing and continued to demonstrate his ability at a high level. His third European grass-track title in 2026 provided another major accomplishment before he finally decided to end his career.
His return after the 2024 accident became an important chapter in a sporting journey that had already lasted more than two decades.
Why Romano Hummel Retired From Motorsport
Hummel announced his final retirement in August 2026 after winning the European grass-track championship in Aduard.
In an interview with German motorsport publication SPEEDWEEK, he explained that he wanted to devote more time to his children and build a life with greater room for family commitments and activities outside racing.
He said that his son and daughter were growing up and that he wanted to be more present for their football activities and other important moments.
The demands of professional racing can extend far beyond race day. Preparation, travel, equipment maintenance, training, and competition schedules require considerable time and commitment.
After approximately 23 years in the sport, Hummel decided that he had reached a point where spending more time with his family mattered more than continuing his racing career.
His retirement announcement followed his European championship victory, allowing him to leave the sport after another major success.
A Lasting Legacy in Dutch Speedway
Romano Hummel’s career connected several generations of his life, beginning with his early introduction to motorcycles and continuing through world championship victories and European titles.
He competed in youth categories before establishing himself in the senior ranks, where his accomplishments included an individual world championship, a team world title, and multiple European grass-track crowns.
His career also demonstrated the challenges faced by riders in a physically demanding sport. The 2024 crash temporarily brought his racing journey to an end, but his return in 2025 allowed him to achieve further success before retiring for good in 2026.
Hummel’s death at 27 marks the loss of a rider whose achievements had made him a prominent figure in Dutch grass-track and long-track racing.
Remembering Romano Hummel
The news of Hummel’s death has brought renewed focus to his sporting achievements and the career he built over more than two decades.
He leaves behind a record that includes the 2021 Individual Long Track World Championship, the 2023 team world title with the Netherlands, and three European grass-track championships. His final European title in August 2026 was a fitting sporting milestone shortly before his retirement.
Although the cause of his death has not been established in the reports reviewed, his accomplishments in motorsport are documented through local reporting and specialist racing coverage.
Romano Hummel was 27 years old.
Editorial disclaimer: This article is based on published reporting from OOG Groningen and specialist motorsport media. The cause of Hummel’s death was not specified in the sources reviewed and has therefore not been stated.