Ricardo Tormo Explained

Ricardo Tormo
Nationality:Spanish
Birth Date:7 September 1952
Birth Place:Canals, Valencia, Spain
Death Place:Valencia, Spain
Gp Active Years: -
Gp Teams:Bultaco, Derbi, Kreidler
Gp Race Starts:87
Gp Championships:50cc -,
Gp Race Wins:19
Gp Podiums:36
Gp Total Points:564
Gp Poles:23
Gp Fastest Laps:4
Gp First Race: 50cc Spanish Grand Prix
Gp First Win: 50cc Swedish Grand Prix
Gp Last Win: 50cc San Marino Grand Prix
Gp Last Race: 80cc Nations Grand Prix

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.[1] 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.

Complete Grand Prix motorcycle racing results

Points system from 1969 to 1987:

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Points1512108654321

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

YearClassBike1234567891011121314PosPtsWins
197350ccDerbiGER
-
NAT
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
ESP
10
28th10
197650ccKreidlerFRA
-
NAT
-
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
GER
-
ESP
6
19th50
197750ccBultacoGER
11
NAT
2
ESP
3
YUG
2
NED
2
BEL
4
SWE
1
3rd691
197850ccBultacoESP
2
NAT
1
NED
2
BEL
1
GER
1
CZE
1
YUG
1
1st995
125ccBultacoVEN
-
ESP
-
AUT
10
FRA
Ret
NAT
-
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
GBR
-
GER
-
YUG
-
30th10
197950ccBultacoGER
Ret
NAT
-
ESP
-
YUG
5
NED
Ret
BEL
-
FRA
Ret
17th60
125ccBultacoVEN
-
AUT
NC
GER
Ret
NAT
-
ESP
-
YUG
Ret
NED
2
BEL
-
SWE
Ret
FIN
1
GBR
12
CZE
Ret
FRA
2
7th391
198050ccKreidler Van VeenNAT
Ret
ESP
5
YUG
1
NED
1
BEL
Ret
GER
Ret
4th362
125ccMBANAT
-
ESP
5
FRA
-
YUG
Ret
NED
6
BEL
9
FIN
-
GBR
-
CZE
-
GER
Ret
12th130
198150ccMotul BultacoGER
Ret
NAT
1
ESP
1
YUG
1
NED
1
BEL
1
RSM
1
CZE
-
1st906
125ccSanveneroARG
12
AUT
-
GER
Ret
NAT
-
FRA
-
ESP
DNQ
YUG
-
NED
8
RSM
4
GBR
9
FIN
4
SWE
1
CZE
-
8th361
198250ccMotul BultacoESP
Ret
NAT
2
NED
3
YUG
3
RSM
-
GER
4
4th400
125ccSanveneroARG
2
AUT
Ret
FRA
WD
ESP
8
NAT
Ret
NED
5
BEL
1
YUG
Ret
GBR
2
SWE
Ret
FIN
Ret
CZE
3
5th521
198350ccGarelliFRA
-
NAT
-
GER
-
ESP
-
YUG
Ret
NED
3
RSM
1
7th251
125ccMBAFRA
1
NAT
4
GER
Ret
ESP
10
AUT
11
YUG
Ret
NED
2
BEL
3
GBR
Ret
SWE
5
RSM
Ret
5th521
198480ccDerbiNAT
Ret
ESP
-
AUT
-
GER
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
-
RSM
-
-00

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Ricardo+Tormo Ricardo Tormo career statistics at MotoGP.com