Spanish motorcycle rider Raul Torras Martinez dies age 46 during Isle of Man TT race after crashing

Spanish motorcycle rider Raul Torras Martinez died in a crash during the Isle of Man TT races on Tuesday, organizers announced.

They said the 46-year-old was killed during the first Supertwin race and on the third and final lap between the 16th and 17th mile markers.

The TT in a racing festival that takes place over a two-week period on the island off the coast of northern England, bringing together motorcycle road racers from across the globe.

Torras Martinez was an experienced TT competitor, making his debut on the island in 2017 and competing in a total of 21 races.

His career best at the event came with a 15th-place finish in the 2022 Supertwin race. He earned 18 Bronze Replicas over the course of his career.

Spanish motorcycle rider Raul Torras Martinez died in a crash during the Isle of Man TT races

The 46-year-old was killed during the first Supertwin race and on the third and final lap

Torras Martinez was an experienced TT competitor, making his debut on the island in 2017

He had recorded his fastest ever lap earlier on Tuesday, reaching an average speed of 125.47 MPH, on his way to 20th place in the Superstock race.

‘Raul was the fastest Spaniard ever to have lapped the TT course,’ organizers said.

The Supertwin race involves twin-cylinder 700cc machines derived from middleweight road motorcycles turned into racing bikes. 

The TT races have been run since 1907 and the event ranks as one of the most dangerous in motorsport.

Six competitors died last year and Torras Martinez was the 267th fatality in the history of the event. 

Last year, a father and son were among those who lost their lives during the competition. 

Driver Roger Stockton, 56, and 21-year-old passenger Bradley, from Crewe, England, died following an incident at Ago’s Leap on the final lap of the second sidecar race.

‘We try to manage risk much better than was done in the past,’ said Gary Thompson, boss of the TT, via Sky News. 

‘The riders sign on, they know that risk. And, almost for them, that’s the challenge. For us, we manage that risk without taking away that challenge.’