Late motocross star Joel Evans’ fiancee Michaela welcomes their first child after his tragic death

The fiancee of late Australian motocross rider Joel Evans has announced the birth of their first child, nearly six months on from his death.

Evans, 30, crashed in a top-level MX1 race at the ProMX Championship event in South Australia and later died in hospital.

Tributes flowed from around the sport before the Queenslander’s partner Michaela shared that “the hardest day of our lives has been made easier knowing a piece of you lives on”.

“Yesterday we lost the most incredible person on this earth,” Michaela wrote in April.

“The most authentic, loved and kind-hearted soul. He loved and devoted his life to this sport which brought him so much joy and he rode it out right till the end.

“We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support for our beautiful man.

“He is such a loved partner, uncle, brother, friend and son but most proudly a father to our adored little boy who is joining us in October.

“Please share his name, share his legacy, this incredible man deserves to be remembered across the generations. We love you so much Joely.”

Michaela shared news of the safe arrival this week.

“Freddy Jae Evans. Our baby boy is earthside, born at 2:22pm on October 3rd,” she wrote.

“He is the perfect mix of love, strength, and a whole lot of his dad shining through. With all the hair and chubb to go with.”

Freddy was born just over a year on from when Evans proposed.

Ahead of the birth Michaela revealed she had changed her surname, following through on their promise to be a family.

“It has always been a matter of when not if, but we never had any need to rush,” she wrote.

“Still I have no doubt Joely would have convinced me to wander down to the court house sometime before bub arrived.

“He’d come home and say ‘I wish I could say I was coming home to my pregnant wife’. I’ve never made an easier decision.

“Forever an Evans. Forever yours.”

Family members celebrated the arrival of Freddy, with Evans’ sister Alex helping her “best friend” Michaela through the birth process.

“He’s here,” Alex wrote.

“I couldn’t be more proud of you Mikki, you outdid yourself again.

“J Evans you’d be the proudest dad and husband.”

Alex’s husband and professional motocross rider Luke Reardon wrote: “You’re finally here little man!! You have the strongest mumma and the coolest daddy ever. We love you Freddy Jae Evans.”

Evans, who also raced in Asia, had previously overcome a serious crash in 2015 that nearly left him paralysed.

After a week-long induced coma he learned how to walk again and returned to riding within a year.