Two motorcycle riders from Spain were killed when they were involved in a chain-reaction accident on Sunday at a sanctioned race in California.
An ambulance took Bernat Martinez, 35, of Alberic, Valencia, to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, in Monterey, where he died after the accident during the MotoAmerica Superbike/Superstock 1000 race at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas,
according to MotoAmerica.com.
A medical helicopter transported Daniel Rivas Fernandez, 27, of Moana Galicia, to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, where he died from his race injuries.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office confirmed the cyclists' deaths Sunday night, noted the Monterey Herald.
Tony Karis of the Herald said the multi-motorcycle accident that injured Martinez and Rivas happened near the beginning of the second race at the track.
MotoAmerica spokesman Paul Carruthers told
The Associated Press that 28 riders were in the race when the collision occurred.
Track spokesman David Hart said four other riders were treated at the track and released. He said an investigation will be conducted by the track.
MotoAmerica.com identified the injured racers as Devon McDonough, Cory Call, Kevin Pinkstaff, and Josh Chisum.
Martinez was ranked fifth overall in superbike points race coming into round seven and had qualified 15th for the pair of 23-lap races and finished 14th in the first race.
Rivas Fernandez, a European superbike racer, made his MotoAmerica debut in Salinas.
"I really don't have any words to describe what we all feel," MotoAmerica president Wayne Rainey said in a statement. "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."
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