Ricardo Tormo

{{Short description|Spanish motorcycle racer (1952–1998)}} {{About|the Spanish motorcycle racer|the race track|Circuit Ricardo Tormo}} {{family name hatnote|Tormo|Blaya|lang=Spanish}} {{one source|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox motorcycle rider |image = RicardoTormo casco.jpg |caption = |name = Ricardo Tormo |nationality = Spanish | birth_date = {{birth date|1952|09|07|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Canals, Valencia]], Spain | death_date = {{Death date and age|1998|12|27|1952|09|07|df=yes}} | death_place = [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], Spain |GP Active years = {{MGP|1973}} - {{MGP|1984}} |GP Teams = [[Bultaco]], [[Derbi]], [[Kreidler]] |GP Race Starts = 87 |GP Championships = 50cc - {{MGP|1978}}, {{MGP|1981}} |GP Race Wins = 19 |GP Podiums = 36 |GP Total Points = 564 |GP Poles = 23 |GP Fastest laps = 4 |GP First race = {{MGP|1973}} 50cc [[Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|Spanish Grand Prix]] |GP First win = {{MGP|1977}} 50cc [[Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|Swedish Grand Prix]] |GP Last win = {{MGP|1983}} 50cc [[San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|San Marino Grand Prix]] |GP Last race = {{MGP|1984}} 80cc [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|Nations Grand Prix]] }}

'''Ricardo Tormo Blaya''' (7 September 1952 – 27 December 1998) was a Spanish professional motorcycle [[road racing|road racer]]. He competed in [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] from {{MGP|1973}} to {{MGP|1984}}, most prominently as a two-time [[50 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing|50cc]] [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Riders' Champions|world champion]] riding [[Bultaco]] motorcycles. The Circuit de Valencia race track was renamed [[Circuit de Valencia|Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo]] in his honor.

==Biography== Tormo was born in the village of Alacor in the municipality of [[Canals, Valencia|Canals]] in the Spanish province of [[Valencia (province)|Valencia]]. When he was 8, his family moved into the center of Canals. Tormo won the {{MGP|1978}} [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] [[List of 50/80cc World Riders' Champions|50cc world championship]] as a member of the [[Bultaco]] factory racing team. He repeated as 50cc world champion in {{MGP|1981}} on a privately backed Bultaco.<ref>[http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Ricardo+Tormo Ricardo Tormo career statistics at MotoGP.com]</ref> 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 Martínez (motorcyclist)|Jorge “Aspar” Martínez]], Tormo signed with the [[Derbi]] factory to compete for the [[1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1984]] world championship in the new 80cc category. Tormo suffered an engine failure at the first race of the year at [[Misano World Circuit|Misano]]. The second race of the season was to be held at Spain's [[Circuito Permanente del Jarama|Jarama Circuit]].

At that time, there were only two official circuits in Spain, one in Jarama and the other in [[Circuit de Calafat|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 Valencia|Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo]].

== Images == <gallery> Image:RicardoTormo_autografo.jpg| Image:RicardoTormo casco.jpg| </gallery>

== Complete Grand Prix motorcycle racing results == Points system from 1969 to 1987: {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- | '''Position''' | width=20| 1 | width=20| 2 | width=20| 3 | width=20| 4 | width=20| 5 | width=20| 6 | width=20| 7 | width=20| 8 | width=20| 9 | width=20| 10 |- | '''Points''' | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |}

([[Template:Motorsport driver results legend|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! Year ! Class ! Bike ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! Pos ! Pts ! Wins |- ! [[1973 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1973]] ! 50cc ! [[Derbi]] | [[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] - | [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - | [[Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] - | [[Dutch TT|NED]] - | [[Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] - | [[Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]] - |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] 10 | | | | | | | ! 28th ! 1 ! 0 |- ! [[1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1976]] ! 50cc ! [[Kreidler]] | [[1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]] - | [[1976 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - | [[1976 Dutch TT|NED]] - | [[1976 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] - | [[1976 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]] - | [[1976 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix|FIN]] - | [[1976 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] - |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1976 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] 6 | | | | | | ! 19th ! 5 ! 0 |- ! [[1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1977]] ! 50cc ! [[Bultaco]] |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[1977 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] 11 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1977 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] 2 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1977 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] 3 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1977 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] 2 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1977 Dutch TT|NED]] 2 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1977 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] 4 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1977 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]'' 1 | | | | | | | |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd''' |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''69''' |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''1''' |- ! rowspan=2|[[1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1978]] ! 50cc ! [[Bultaco]] | |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1978 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] 2 | | |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[1978 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''' 1 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1978 Dutch TT|NED]] 2 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[1978 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]''''' 1 | | | |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[1978 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''''' 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[1978 Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix|CZE]]''''' 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1978 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]]'' 1 | |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]''' |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''99''' |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''5''' |- |- ! 125cc ! [[Bultaco]] | [[1978 Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix|VEN]] - | [[1978 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] - |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1978 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix|AUT]] 10 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1978 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]] Ret | [[1978 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - | [[1978 Dutch TT|NED]] - | [[1978 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] - | [[1978 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]] - | [[1978 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix|FIN]] - | [[1978 British motorcycle Grand Prix|GBR]] - | [[1978 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] - | | [[1978 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] - | ! 30th ! 1 ! 0 |- ! rowspan=2|[[1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1979]] ! 50cc ! [[Bultaco]] | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''''[[1979 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''''' Ret | [[1979 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - | [[1979 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] - |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1979 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] 5 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1979 Dutch TT|NED]]''' Ret | [[1979 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] - | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]]''' Ret | ! 17th ! 6 ! 0 |- ! 125cc ! [[Bultaco]] | [[1979 Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix|VEN]] - |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[1979 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix|AUT]] NC |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1979 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] Ret | [[1979 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - | [[1979 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] - |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1979 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]]''' Ret |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1979 Dutch TT|NED]] 2 | [[1979 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] - |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1979 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]] Ret |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1979 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix|FIN]]'' 1 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[1979 British motorcycle Grand Prix|GBR]] 12 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix|CZE]] Ret |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1979 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]] 2 | ! 7th ! 39 ! 1 |- ! rowspan=2|[[1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1980]] ! 50cc ! [[Kreidler]] [[Van Veen (motorcycle)|Van Veen]] |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1980 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''[[1980 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]''' 5 | |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]]''''' 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[1980 Dutch TT|NED]]''''' 1 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1980 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]''' Ret | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1980 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]''' Ret | | | | ! 4th ! 36 ! 2 |- ! 125cc ! [[Morbidelli|MBA]] | [[1980 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1980 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] 5 | [[1980 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]] - |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1980 Dutch TT|NED]] 6 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1980 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] 9 | [[1980 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix|FIN]] - | [[1980 British motorcycle Grand Prix|GBR]] - | [[Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix|CZE]] - |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1980 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] Ret | | | | ! 12th ! 13 ! 0 |- ! rowspan=2|[[1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1981]] ! 50cc ! [[Motul (company)|Motul]] [[Bultaco]] | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] Ret |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1981 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]'' 1 | |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]''''' 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1981 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]]'' 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1981 Dutch TT|NED]] 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[1981 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]''''' 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''[[1981 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|RSM]]''''' 1 | | | | [[Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix|CZE]] - |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]''' |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''90''' |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''6''' |- ! 125cc ! [[Sanvenero]] |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix|ARG]] 12 | [[1981 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix|AUT]] - |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1981 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] Ret | [[1981 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - | [[1981 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]] - |style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] DNQ | [[1981 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] - |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1981 Dutch TT|NED]] 8 | |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1981 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|RSM]] 4 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1981 British motorcycle Grand Prix|GBR]] 9 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1981 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix|FIN]] 4 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[1981 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]] 1 | [[Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix|CZE]] - ! 8th ! 36 ! 1 |- ! rowspan=2|[[1982 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1982]] ! 50cc ! [[Motul (company)|Motul]] [[Bultaco]] | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1982 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] Ret |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1982 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] 2 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1982 Dutch TT|NED]] 3 | |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1982 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] 3 | | | | | [[1982 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|RSM]] - |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1982 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] 4 ! 4th ! 40 ! 0 |- ! 125cc ! [[Sanvenero]] |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''[[1982 Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix|ARG]]'' 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1982 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix|AUT]] Ret |style="background:#FFFFFF;"| [[1982 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]] WD |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1982 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1982 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1982 Dutch TT|NED]] 5 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[1982 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]''' 1 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1982 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] Ret |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1982 British motorcycle Grand Prix|GBR]] 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1982 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]''' Ret |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix|FIN]] Ret |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix|CZE]] 3 | | ! 5th ! 52 ! 1 |- ! rowspan=2|[[1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1983]] ! 50cc ! [[Garelli Motorcycles|Garelli]] | [[1983 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]] - | [[1983 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] - | [[1983 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] - | [[1983 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] - | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ''[[1983 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]]'' Ret |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1983 Dutch TT|NED]] 3 | | | |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''[[1983 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|RSM]]'' 1 | | | ! 7th ! 25 ! 1 |- ! 125cc ! [[Morbidelli|MBA]] |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[1983 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]]''' 1 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1983 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]] 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1983 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[1983 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] 10 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[1983 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix|AUT]] 11 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[1983 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] Ret |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [[1983 Dutch TT|NED]] 2 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[1983 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] 3 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1983 British motorcycle Grand Prix|GBR]]''' Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''''[[1983 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]''''' 5 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1983 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|RSM]]''' Ret | | | ! 5th ! 52 ! 1 |- ! [[1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1984]] ! 80cc ! [[Derbi]] |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''[[1984 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]''' Ret | [[1984 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]] - | [[1984 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix|AUT]] - | [[1984 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]] - | [[1984 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix|YUG]] - | [[1984 Dutch TT|NED]] - | [[1984 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]] - | [[1984 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix|RSM]] - | | | | | | ! - ! 0 ! 0 |- |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{Find a Grave|9789581}} *[http://www.circuitvalencia.com/ricardo-tormo/ Ricardo Tormo's Circuit] * https://web.archive.org/web/20090506222853/http://www.portalmundos.com/mundomotormania/campeones/ricardotormo.htm * http://www.lahoya.net/circuitodecheste/ricardo.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20080801212254/http://reinodevalencia.com/2008/06/17/don-ricardo-tormo-blaya/

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tormo, Ricardo}} [[Category:1952 births]] [[Category:1998 deaths]] [[Category:People from Costera (comarca)]] [[Category:Motorcycle racers from the Province of Valencia]] [[Category:Spanish motorcycle racers]] [[Category:50cc World Championship riders]] [[Category:125cc World Championship riders]] [[Category:Deaths from leukemia in Spain]]