Ricardo Tormo

Ricardo Tormo Blaya (7 September 1952 – 27 December 1998) was a Spanish professional motorcycle road racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from to , most prominently as a two-time 50cc world champion riding Bultaco motorcycles. The Circuit de Valencia race track was renamed Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in his honor.

Biography Tormo was born in the village of Alacor in the municipality of Canals in the Spanish province of Valencia. When he was 8, his family moved into the center of Canals. Tormo won the FIM 50cc world championship as a member of the Bultaco factory racing team. He repeated as 50cc world champion in on a privately backed Bultaco. He was also a three-time 50cc Spanish national champion and a four-time 125cc national champion. His career was closely linked to that of Ángel Nieto, who was both a teammate and rival of Tormo.

In 1983, together with Jorge “Aspar” Martínez, Tormo signed with the Derbi factory to compete for the 1984 world championship in the new 80cc category. Tormo suffered an engine failure at the first race of the year at Misano. The second race of the season was to be held at Spain's Jarama Circuit.

At that time, there were only two official circuits in Spain, one in Jarama and the other in Calafat. The team planned test rides before the race, but both circuits were already booked, forcing them to practice in Martorelles. This region of Barcelona was an industrial park near the Derbi factory. The team occasionally had test runs in this area, blocking off the roads to ensure that no cars would interfere with the racers. However, during a practice prior to the Spanish Grand Prix, a vehicle gained access to the area from one of the team's assistants who was supposed to have blocked off all of the roads. Tragically, Tormo, who was testing a new racing suit, hit the car and shattered his right leg. The accident marked the end of his racing career and the beginning of a countless series of surgeries.

In 1994, Tormo received Valencia's highest honor when he was given the Valencian Community's High Distinction award. In collaboration with the journalist Paco Desamparados, an autobiography was published, entitled "Yo Ricardo. Una vida por y para la moto". (I am Ricardo. A life by and for motorcycles).

On 27 December 1998, Tormo died from leukemia, which he had been battling for many years. In his honor, Valencia's racetrack was renamed the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.

Images

Complete Grand Prix motorcycle racing results Points system from 1969 to 1987: Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Pts Wins 1973 50cc Derbi GER- NAT- YUG- NED- BEL- SWE- ESP10 28th 1 0 1976 50cc Kreidler FRA- NAT- NED- BEL- SWE- FIN- GER- ESP6 19th 5 0 1977 50cc Bultaco GER11 NAT2 ESP3 YUG2 NED2 BEL4 SWE1 3rd 69 11978 50cc Bultaco ESP2 NAT1 NED2 BEL1 GER1 CZE1 YUG1 1st 99 5 125cc Bultaco VEN- ESP- AUT10 FRARet NAT- NED- BEL- SWE- FIN- GBR- GER- YUG- 30th 1 01979 50cc Bultaco GERRet NAT- ESP- YUG5 NEDRet BEL- FRARet 17th 6 0 125cc Bultaco VEN- AUTNC GERRet NAT- ESP- YUGRet NED2 BEL- SWERet FIN1 GBR12 CZERet FRA2 7th 39 11980 50cc Kreidler Van Veen NATRet ESP5 YUG1 NED1 BELRet GERRet 4th 36 2 125cc MBA NAT- ESP5 FRA- YUGRet NED6 BEL9 FIN- GBR- CZE- GERRet 12th 13 01981 50cc Motul Bultaco GERRet NAT1 ESP1 YUG1 NED1 BEL1 RSM1 CZE- 1st 90 6 125cc Sanvenero ARG12 AUT- GERRet NAT- FRA- ESPDNQ YUG- NED8 RSM4 GBR9 FIN4 SWE1 CZE- 8th 36 11982 50cc Motul Bultaco ESPRet NAT2 NED3 YUG3 RSM- GER4 4th 40 0 125cc Sanvenero ARG2 AUTRet FRAWD ESP8 NATRet NED5 BEL1 YUGRet GBR2 SWERet FINRet CZE3 5th 52 11983 50cc Garelli FRA- NAT- GER- ESP- YUGRet NED3 RSM1 7th 25 1 125cc MBA FRA1 NAT4 GERRet ESP10 AUT11 YUGRet NED2 BEL3 GBRRet SWE5 RSMRet 5th 52 1 1984 80cc Derbi NATRet ESP- AUT- GER- YUG- NED- BEL- RSM- - 0 0