# Ricardo Tormo

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Spanish motorcycle racer (1952–1998)

This article is about the Spanish motorcycle racer. For the race track, see [Circuit Ricardo Tormo](/source/Circuit_Ricardo_Tormo).

In this [Spanish name](/source/Spanish_name), the first or paternal [surname](/source/Surname) is *Tormo* and the second or maternal family name is *Blaya*.

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Please help improve this article by citing more sources. Find sources: "Ricardo Tormo" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2025)

Ricardo Tormo Nationality Spanish Born (1952-09-07)7 September 1952 Canals, Valencia, Spain Died 27 December 1998(1998-12-27) (aged 46) Valencia, Spain Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1973 - 1984 First race 1973 50cc Spanish Grand Prix Last race 1984 80cc Nations Grand Prix First win 1977 50cc Swedish Grand Prix Last win 1983 50cc San Marino Grand Prix Team(s) Bultaco, Derbi, Kreidler Championships 50cc - 1978, 1981 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 87 19 36 23 4 564

**Ricardo Tormo Blaya** (7 September 1952 – 27 December 1998) was a Spanish professional motorcycle [road racer](/source/Road_racing). He competed in [Grand Prix motorcycle racing](/source/Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing) from [1973](/source/1973_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_season) to [1984](/source/1984_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_season), most prominently as a two-time [50cc](/source/50_cc_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing) [world champion](/source/List_of_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_World_Riders'_Champions) riding [Bultaco](/source/Bultaco) motorcycles. The Circuit de Valencia race track was renamed [Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo](/source/Circuit_de_Valencia) in his honor.

## Biography

Tormo was born in the village of Alacor in the municipality of [Canals](/source/Canals%2C_Valencia) in the Spanish province of [Valencia](/source/Valencia_(province)). When he was 8, his family moved into the center of Canals. Tormo won the [1978](/source/1978_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_season) [FIM](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Internationale_de_Motocyclisme) [50cc world championship](/source/List_of_50%2F80cc_World_Riders'_Champions) as a member of the [Bultaco](/source/Bultaco) factory racing team. He repeated as 50cc world champion in [1981](/source/1981_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_season) 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](/source/%C3%81ngel_Nieto), who was both a teammate and rival of Tormo.

In 1983, together with [Jorge “Aspar” Martínez](/source/Jorge_Mart%C3%ADnez_(motorcyclist)), Tormo signed with the [Derbi](/source/Derbi) factory to compete for the [1984](/source/1984_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_season) world championship in the new 80cc category. Tormo suffered an engine failure at the first race of the year at [Misano](/source/Misano_World_Circuit). The second race of the season was to be held at Spain's [Jarama Circuit](/source/Circuito_Permanente_del_Jarama).

At that time, there were only two official circuits in Spain, one in Jarama and the other in [Calafat](/source/Circuit_de_Calafat). The team planned test rides before the race, but both circuits were already booked, forcing them to practice in [Martorelles](/source/Martorelles). This region of [Barcelona](/source/Barcelona) was an industrial park near the [Derbi](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Circuit_de_Valencia).

## 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Motorsport_driver_results_legend)) (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

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Ricardo Tormo career statistics at MotoGP.com](http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Ricardo+Tormo)

## External links

- [Ricardo Tormo](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9789581) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

- [Ricardo Tormo's Circuit](http://www.circuitvalencia.com/ricardo-tormo/)

- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090506222853/http://www.portalmundos.com/mundomotormania/campeones/ricardotormo.htm](https://web.archive.org/web/20090506222853/http://www.portalmundos.com/mundomotormania/campeones/ricardotormo.htm)

- [http://www.lahoya.net/circuitodecheste/ricardo.html](http://www.lahoya.net/circuitodecheste/ricardo.html)

- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080801212254/http://reinodevalencia.com/2008/06/17/don-ricardo-tormo-blaya/](https://web.archive.org/web/20080801212254/http://reinodevalencia.com/2008/06/17/don-ricardo-tormo-blaya/)

v t e 50/80cc World Riders' Champions 1962 - E. Degner 1963 - H. Anderson 1964 - H. Anderson 1965 - R. Bryans 1966 - H. Anscheidt 1967 - H. Anscheidt 1968 - H. Anscheidt 1969 - Á. Nieto 1970 - Á. Nieto 1971 - J. de Vries 1972 - Á. Nieto 1973 - J. de Vries 1974 - H. v. Kessel 1975 - Á. Nieto 1976 - Á. Nieto 1977 - Á. Nieto 1978 - R. Tormo 1979 - E. Lazzarini 1980 - E. Lazzarini 1981 - R. Tormo 1982 - S. Dörflinger 1983 - S. Dörflinger 1984 - S. Dörflinger 1985 - S. Dörflinger 1986 - J. Martinez 1987 - J. Martinez 1988 - J. Martinez 1989 - M. Herreros

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National Spain 2 Catalonia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ricardo Tormo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Tormo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Tormo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.