Spanish TT racer 'misjudged racing line' before crashing into field

Misadventure verdict recorded at inquest into death of Raul Torras Martinez

*A warning that this story contains information which readers may find upsetting.

A Spanish TT racer who died during this year’s event ‘simply misjudged the racing line’.

That’s according to the coroner of inquests who today (23 November) recorded a verdict of misadventure at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Raul Torras Martinez.

The 46-year-old, from Sant Hilari Sacalm, was killed on 6 June - during the final lap of the Supertwin Race - between Orrisdale Road and Ballaugh Alpine.

Witnesses

At Douglas Courthouse the inquest heard from a number of witnesses who were at the scene including the marshal who saw the Spanish policeman come off his bike just before 7.30pm.

He described how he watched the rider’s machine take an unusual racing line, before travelling towards the hedge, adding he could see him holding his left leg out as if he was trying to ‘balance’ the bike.

“It all happened in a flash,” he said describing how he saw Torras disappear over the hedge and into the neighbouring field.

Another marshal, stationed at nearby Alpine, told the court: “I heard the crash before I saw anything,” adding he ‘just saw debris’ afterwards.

Running towards the field, with a stretcher, the man said he entered and saw the racer partly covered by the ‘big branch’ of a tree.

A doctor who was providing medical cover for the TT Races also gave evidence to the inquest saying she’d heard a ‘loud screech’ and then heard a noise which sounded like a ‘tree snapping’.

After running to assist she said it was clear, when she entered the field, that Torras had sustained ‘very serious injuries’ and had died at the scene.

Post-mortem and vehicle examination

A post-mortem examination found the racer had suffered multiple injuries due to, or as a consequence of, a motorcycle racing incident.

Evidence from a vehicle examination was also provided to the court showing the Aprilia racing bike had no mechanical defects which would have caused, or contributed to, the crash.

Vehicle examiners noted however that it had sustained ‘heavy impact damage’ to its front, and ‘catastrophic impact damage’ to its engine, but no real damage to the sides.

This, it was said, suggested Torras had remained upright until the point of impact.

Verdict

Recording his verdict Coroner of Inquests James Brooks said it had been an ‘extremely shocking incident’ for the marshals, and medics, to witness and had happened when Torras was travelling at ‘significant speed’.

“The injuries suffered by Raul were extremely serious,” he added: “He must have known motorcycle racing was an activity that was inherently risky.”

You can find out more about the Spanish racer HERE.