Ricardo Tormo Blaya (7 September 1952 – 27 December 1998) was a Spanish professional motorcycle road racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1973 to 1984, 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.

Ricardo Tormo
NationalitySpanish
Born(1952-09-07)7 September 1952
Canals, Valencia, Spain
Died27 December 1998(1998-12-27) (aged 46)
Valencia, Spain
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1973 - 1984
First race1973 50cc Spanish Grand Prix
Last race1984 80cc Nations Grand Prix
First win1977 50cc Swedish Grand Prix
Last win1983 50cc San Marino Grand Prix
Team(s)Bultaco, Derbi, Kreidler
Championships50cc - 1978, 1981
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
87 19 36 23 4 564

Biography

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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 1978 FIM 50cc world championship as a member of the Bultaco factory racing team. He repeated as 50cc world champion in 1981 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.

Images

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Complete Grand Prix motorcycle racing results

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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
-
ESP
10
28th 1 0
1976 50cc Kreidler FRA
-
NAT
-
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
GER
-
ESP
6
19th 5 0
1977 50cc Bultaco GER
11
NAT
2
ESP
3
YUG
2
NED
2
BEL
4
SWE
1
3rd 69 1
1978 50cc Bultaco ESP
2
NAT
1
NED
2
BEL
1
GER
1
CZE
1
YUG
1
1st 99 5
125cc Bultaco VEN
-
ESP
-
AUT
10
FRA
Ret
NAT
-
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
GBR
-
GER
-
YUG
-
30th 1 0
1979 50cc Bultaco GER
Ret
NAT
-
ESP
-
YUG
5
NED
Ret
BEL
-
FRA
Ret
17th 6 0
125cc Bultaco VEN
-
AUT
NC
GER
Ret
NAT
-
ESP
-
YUG
Ret
NED
2
BEL
-
SWE
Ret
FIN
1
GBR
12
CZE
Ret
FRA
2
7th 39 1
1980 50cc Kreidler Van Veen NAT
Ret
ESP
5
YUG
1
NED
1
BEL
Ret
GER
Ret
4th 36 2
125cc MBA NAT
-
ESP
5
FRA
-
YUG
Ret
NED
6
BEL
9
FIN
-
GBR
-
CZE
-
GER
Ret
12th 13 0
1981 50cc Motul Bultaco GER
Ret
NAT
1
ESP
1
YUG
1
NED
1
BEL
1
RSM
1
CZE
-
1st 90 6
125cc Sanvenero ARG
12
AUT
-
GER
Ret
NAT
-
FRA
-
ESP
DNQ
YUG
-
NED
8
RSM
4
GBR
9
FIN
4
SWE
1
CZE
-
8th 36 1
1982 50cc Motul Bultaco ESP
Ret
NAT
2
NED
3
YUG
3
RSM
-
GER
4
4th 40 0
125cc Sanvenero ARG
2
AUT
Ret
FRA
WD
ESP
8
NAT
Ret
NED
5
BEL
1
YUG
Ret
GBR
2
SWE
Ret
FIN
Ret
CZE
3
5th 52 1
1983 50cc Garelli FRA
-
NAT
-
GER
-
ESP
-
YUG
Ret
NED
3
RSM
1
7th 25 1
125cc MBA FRA
1
NAT
4
GER
Ret
ESP
10
AUT
11
YUG
Ret
NED
2
BEL
3
GBR
Ret
SWE
5
RSM
Ret
5th 52 1
1984 80cc Derbi NAT
Ret
ESP
-
AUT
-
GER
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
-
RSM
-
- 0 0

References

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