The eldest daughter of respected British motorcycle journalist Kevin Ash has paid a heartfelt🌜 tribute to her father.

Mr Ash died following an accident during a BMW press launch in Sout🃏🌃h Africa.

He was the Daily Telegraph's motorcycling correspondent for 15 years and a col💛umnist for Motorcycle News.

Mr A𓆉sh was fatally injured during the launch event nꦺorth of the town of George, some 155 miles east of Cape Town.

Reports claim the fatal accid🥃ent occurred as a group of journalists were on a two-day ride to test BMW's new R1200GS.

A statement released on his official website, Ash on Bikes, by his oldest daughter said: 'Kevin Ash passed away on January 22nd due to a motorcycle accident during a pr🔯ess launch in South Africa.

'The phra𝔉se "he died doing what he loved" sprang to mind but I woul🔯d like to stamp that firmly out. He loved his family more and we love him.

'As his oldest daughter, I only recently started to fullᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚy realise just how much further his parenting went than most; on receiving a tearful phone call at Stanstead airport it was a natural response to immediately cancel his press launch and ride back home to teach trigonometry the night before exams.

'Everything h꧙e diℱd was entirely for his children and his wife, and a little bit for his cat.

'My parents loved ꧟each other very much and I hope that one day we can learn to live without him.'

Mr Ash is a forℱmer assistant editor of Motorcycle News and a statement on the newᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚspaper's website said it was 'deeply saddened' by the tragedy.

'Known for his tech🧸nical authority, claౠrity of expression and prolific output, Kevin was also sharp-witted, great company, a devoted husband and father to his wife and three daughters and universally liked. MCN passes on our deep condolences to his family.'

Adrian Roderick, g𒀰eneral manager for BMW Motorrad UK, said: "We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the awful news about Kevin Ash; one of the most well-liked, experienced and r🌊espected journalists in the extremely close-knit motorcycle community.

"Losing Kevin is a tragedy which will be felt across 🌃the entire industry. He was a friend, as much as a journalist, and will be sorely missed.

"Our heartfelt thoughts are with his fa🌃mily, friends and colleagues at this awful time.♏"