Rivas, Martínez lose their lives in Laguna crash

Two Spanish racers were killed in a chain-reaction crash on the first lap of a World Superbike race, leaving the racing community overwhelmed with sadness and raising questions about what happened on the track.

The two riders were part of the MotoAmerica Superbike/STK 1,000 race that started just before 5 p.m.

In race two Sykes led Rea in the early laps, with an attempted pass from the championship leader being rebuffed by his team-mate in definite fashion.

Daniel Rivas Fernandez and Bernat Martinez, both from Spain, were both involved in a multi-rider crash that eventually took their lives.

Rea, who continued his remarkable run of finishing on the podium at every single race this year, said: ‘I tried a lot but there was nothing I could do to go through on Tom in race one.

His compatriot, 27-year-old Fernandez, appeared to have suffered more severe injuries, and was thus immediately airlifted to a more specialised medical centre in nearby Salinas, California but was unable to be saved.

Wayne Rainey, MotoAmerica president said, “I really don’t have any words to describe what we all feel”.

“The track here perhaps limits our weak points and plays to our strengths, and we were able to put together two really good races that went nearly exactly to plan”.

Race Two – Chaz Davies’ second WorldSBK double and the first one for Ducati since Imola 2012.

. Our thoughts are with their family and friends.

Martinez was fifth in the Superbike Championship standings entering Sunday’s races.