Two Racers Killed in MotoAmerica Race

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

Spanish racers Bernat Martinez and Daniel Rivas Fernandez have both succumbed to injuries suffered in a multi-bike crash in a MotoAmerica race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Martinez, (35, pictured left), and Rivas, (27, on the right), were caught in a chain reaction crash on the first lap of the second MotoAmerica Superbike and Superstock 1000 race.

Martinez was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Monterey, Calif., where he was pronounced dead. Rivas was air lifted to a medical center in Salinas where he too succumbed to his injuries.

“I really don’t have any words to describe what we all feel,” said MotoAmerica president Wayne Rainey. “First and foremost, is the loss to the families and loved ones. Our sincere condolences goes out to each and every one of them as well as the MotoAmerica family. They are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Martinez had been competing in the U.S. for the last few seasons, finishing tenth overall in the 2014 AMA Superbike Championship with a career-best finish of fourth at the final race of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Martinez also raced seven rounds of the 2010 Moto2 championship.

Rivas was relatively new to racing in the U.S. but in Europe, he established himself in the European Superstock 600 Championship. Rivas also raced in the World Superstock 1000 and Superstock 600 championships and a few rounds of the Moto2 championship from 2010-2013.

“We are deeply saddened to learn the news of the passing of Bernat Martinez and Daniel Rivas,” said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Our prayers and hearts go out to their families and teams.”

Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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